Visiting Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Come join us as we visit the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Some places or attractions you visit don't live up to the hype; however, the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎) certainly does and having an opportunity to see its splendor from afar and up close is one of the greatest travel moment we've experienced in recent memory. As impressive as the Alhambra is from certain lookout points in Granada it is once you enter its grounds up close and person that you have a real appreciation for the intricate details and sheer size of the place. Our biggest suggestion when visiting the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎) is to give yourself plenty of time to take it all in. It is an attraction that is so impressive and massive that spending anything less than half a day does not do it justice.
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Visiting Alhambra in Granada, Spain Travel Video Transcript:
Good morning guys. As you can tell from the way we are dressed it is fill in the blank cold this morning. We're really excited to be exploring the Alhambra here in Granada. We are up bright and early. We sure are. We have tickets for 10 am to visit the Nasrid Palaces but we've come in early. We're going to have a look around visit the gardens. There is two reasons why we decided to come so early this morning. And it was actually minus temperatures this morning. That is why I'm dressed the way we are. We have our hats, we have our toques and we have our scarves on. Apparently there is the best light in the morning. And you beat the crowds a little bit. Let's do this.
The Alhambra is one of the most impressive sights in all of Spain and it receives over 2 million tourists every year. This complex of palaces, gardens and fortresses once formed the citadel that was part of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, which was the last Muslim dynasty to rule along the Iberian Peninsula from the years 1230 to 1492.
The Nasrid Palaces are a collection of rooms, courtyards, and spaces that were used for business, administration, and for private living quarters.
The architecture is characterized by its carved arabic inscriptions, its intricate cedar wood ceilings, and its colourful tiles arranged in geometric patterns.
Inside the Nasrid Palaces, we visited the Court of the Myrtles, whose key feature is a pool fed by two marble fountains. Not only did this help cool the palace, but it also acted as a symbol of power since water was usually in short supply.
From there we continued to the Hall of Ambassadors, which is the largest room in the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎). This was the grand reception room where the sultan’s throne was located. One of the most impressive aspects of this room is the carved wooden ceiling, which is a representation of the Seven Heavens of the Islamic Paradise.
Our next stop was the Palace of Charles the V, which stands out from the rest of the constructions at the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎). Construction of this palace was ordered by Charles the V who was Holy Roman Emperor at the time. He wanted to establish his residence close to the Alhambra palaces, though there is no evidence he ever lived here.
There was still plenty left to see in the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎), so our next stop was the Alcazaba. This is the oldest part of the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎) which was built as a stronghold for surveillance and defence. We climbed up the two towers, which offer some of the best views of Granada.
And that’s pretty much a wrap for our visit to the Alhambra (الْحَمْرَاء‎). We only spent a half day touring the grounds, but you could easily spend a full day there - especially if you visit in the spring or summer once the gardens are already in bloom. Our parting tips for the Alhambra are to visit with plenty of time, and to wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking around a lot! That’s it for now, and we’ll see you in the next video.
This is part of our Travel in Spain video series showcasing Spanish food, Spanish culture and Spanish cuisine.
Music by Simon More: