The city of Pomegranate, Granada & the Alhambra Palace

Granada was the last city to fall to the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabela in 1492. For a long period of time, the Moors have known it as the "City of Pomegranate".

One of the greatest gem of this city, is the beautiful Alhambra, also known as the "Red Castle", is an Arabian night palace overlooking the fertile lands of the city below.

We first spent some time in its beautiful garden, the Alameda de la Alhambra, which was filled with intricate corridors of roses, wildflowers and myrtles. In particular, there were tall massive English elms that were brought by Duke Wellington in 1812.

Every corner there is a surprise, and needless today, every patio, every corridor comes with a beautiful mountainous view.

Chamber of Ambassador

The Chamber of Ambassador is the largest room of the complex and it is completed covered with geometric patterns and ataurique motifs (of flowers and leaves). There are three windows panels on each side of the wall, bringing new light to the room and giving it an unique complexion. The ceiling had a designs of stars and constellations with cedar wood panels, representing the seven heavens of paradise.

Chamber of Ambassador Window Silhoulettes

Courtyard of Lions

Adjacent to it is the Courtyard of Lions, which was built in the 14th century, where the 12 marble lions fountain would channel water from each lion's mouth, which really reminded me of the 12 zodiac water fountain at Old Summer Palace in China. I was also very much fascinated by the fact that this courtyard (or many of parts of the palace) was designed with golden ratio in mind.

Courtyard of Lions

The tiles also has a lot of mathematical beauty in it to form such delicate tessellation. It is said that M.C.Escher visit to the Alhambra and Mezquita in Cordoba had a very large influence on his work later on.

Mugarnas (Honeycomb vaulting) & Mocarabes (Stalactites)

Apart from the use of geometric shapes, tessellation tiles, inscriptions from the Koran, there are lots of forest and natural imagery involved.

The Mugarnas are these tiny squinches that form the shape of honey-combs, often found in Iranian or Persian architecture.

Honeycomb Vaulting

There is also another similar form, called the "Mocarabes", which are more like sharp stalactites that are found at entrance ways or half-domes.

Carlos V Palace

One may start thinking that this palace seems very much out of the place. In fact, after the Reconquista, Carlos I (also know as the Hasburg Holy Roman Emperor Charles V -- we will get into more detail as to why the Spanish and the Holy Roman Empire was related), he decided to add a residential area that is closed to the Alhambra. The building was never really completed (war depleted Carlos I income in finishing this area), and the roof was only added in 1957.

Carlos I Palace

Despite its Renaissance facade, when you walk into the hall, you will find that there is an inner circular patio, which is unprecedented in Renaissance architecture.

This place felt more like a bullring rather than a palace, nevertheless, it is beautiful.