Because we talk about the Alhambra, in singular form,
it sounds as if it’s one building. But the Alhambra was actually a royal city,
a fortified complex of palaces, mosques, schools, workshops and farms capable of supporting 40,000 people. Not surprisingly, given its turbulent history, the fortress that we see today bears only a passing
resemblance to the Nasrid’s medieval stronghold.
Like the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Alhambra was significantly altered after Spanish troops conquered Granada in 1492, beginning with the Christian purification rites that stripped away the Islamic religious symbols. Thirty years later, several original buildings were demolished to make way for Charles V's enormous Renaissance palace, which now sits so ponderously amidst the remaining Moorish architecture. In subsequent centuries, earthquakes, neglect and occupying troops took an additional toll. Finally, in the mid-19th century, after the Alhambra's delights were once again brought to the world’s attention, a number of imaginative “restorations” destroyed what several centuries of neglect hadn't.
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| The Alhambra (on the left) with Granada visible in the distance. |
