Farewell to the Alhambra.....

Our visit to Granada's beautiful Alhambra is winding down. One of the last places we visited was the Palacio del Partal. This is the oldest building in the Alhambra and the only part of this palace that still remains. Oddly enough, it was one of the few places in the Alhambra where we were not surrounded by other people. We found a quiet bench near the pool, and for a few moments I felt as if we were not part of a constant and large crowd of Alhambra admirers, but a true part of the palace with the sights and sounds of the many birds creating a mini-oasis in the midst of a busy spirit that seems to belie the very nature of this place. Here are a few shots of this pavilion with its arched and tiled porticos, reflecting pool and stunning views all framed by palms.

We also managed to visit the fortress Alcazaba. There is a ravine that separates the fortress from the Alhambra, but it has been filled for centuries and is now called the Plaza de los Aljibes. Ferdinand and Isabella defeated Boabdil and took over the fortress in January of 1492. In a final symbolic blow to Moorish Spain they displayed the cross on the Torre de la Veja that you see in the background in this picture from www.lexorient.com.




You enter the fort through the Puerta del Vino - "Gate of Wine." It was once connected to an inner wall that divided the fortress from the city of the Alhambra. It doesn't have the same protective shape as some of the other gates and perhaps its proximity to the city explains why that is so and why it is more decorative than the other gates.



You may have seen prints of water colours of this gate as it was very popular with 19th century painters, particularly those from France. "La Puerta del Vino" is a piano piece by Debussy. As Debussy never actually visited the Alhambra perhaps he was inspired by one of the water colour paintings?

Here are some final pictures of the city of Granada, the Alhambra and the Generalife as seen from the Alcazaba's Torre de la Veja.

This picture shows the Generalife nestled in the hills in the far background. In this photo it looks like the Generalife is just to the left of the Comares tower but it is actually a fair distance away.

I leave Granada and the Alhambra with this picture that I found on www.lexorient.com. How is it possible to be homesick for a place in which you spent less than eight hours of your life? Such is the magic of the Alhambra!