The Alhambra, Granada Spain
Granada Spain is the intersection of Moorish and Christian cultures entwined with Arab, and Spanish influences. It’s commonplace to see signs and billboards written in Spanish, Arabic, and English. Granada is a magical place if you love experiencing the mixing of different cultures, rather than reading about them in a book.
Brief History
Perched high on a hill overlooking the beautiful city of Granada sits the world famous Alhambra Palaces. Originally The Alhambra was constructed as a small fortress on old Roman fortifications in AD 889. It was Nasrid Emir Mohammed Ben Al-Ahmar who renovated and built the current palaces and walls in the 13th century. The palaces changed hands after the Christian reconquest in 1492 and became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. There is much more to the history of these palaces, and those who influenced the architecture of the current buildings. Check out this website if you want to learn more about the diverse history of The Alhambra alhambradegranada.org.
Getting Tickets
Buy your tickets online as early as possible. The Alhambra is a very popular attraction. Therefore, they only allow 300 people to enter every 30 minutes. This means tickets for specific days will sell out. When you buy tickets they are sold in time slots. The time you choose on your ticket is the earliest time you are allowed entry. If you show up before the time on your ticket, you will have to wait. Or if you show up after the time on your ticket, they won’t let you in. People start waiting in line about 30 minutes before the listed time on the ticket. One great thing about visiting the Alhambra is kids get in free. However, they still need a ticket. Make sure to include them when buying your tickets. You can buy tickets online here.
What to Expect
There are a lot of people who visit the Alhambra every day! It’s almost impossible to take pictures without people in the way unless you are one of the first inside, or one of the last to leave. In the summer expect it to be BUSY and HOT! There are a few places inside to buy drinks and snacks that have air conditioning. There are also some souvenir shops around. Give yourself plenty of time to see all the sights. We spent several hours inside, and still didn’t see it all.
Getting There
It’s about a 10-15 walk uphill to get inside if you are staying close to the palaces. Many people take busses or taxis from town up the hill, but it’s a beautiful walk if you are up for it.
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