Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Spain Trip: Day 9

August 1, 2016. On a fine cloudy Sunday morning we drove northeast for about an hour and a half up the mountains to about 2,800 feet above sea level to Alhambra, a palace/fortress complex in Granada, Andalucia. Alhambra is the most visited tourist spot in Spain, averaging 8,000 visitors a day. This is such an amazing place, one day is not enough to absorb everything.


The word alhambra is Arabic for "the red one" which refers to the color of the fortress especially during sunset. Alhambra is a marvel in architecture and engineering. Originally built by the Moors in the 8th century, it was taken over by the Christians in the 13th century. The Moors created most of the original interior architecture including the water fountains and pools, engraved walls and ceilings, mosaics, and gardens. The Christians were mostly responsible for the heavy fortification. Click here for more on Alhambra from Wikipedia.