SOUTH SPAIN, GRANADA 2, ALHAMBRA, MAY 2018

 

The Alhambra, Spanish   (A  Lambra),    Al-Hamra  (Arabic)  is a Palace and Fortress Complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain, originally constricted as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications. Renovated and rebuilt in the  mid -13th Century by Nasrid emir ben Ahmar of the  Emirate of Granada. who built the current Palace and walls. It was converted into a Royal Palace in 1333 by Yusuf I Sultan of Granada.

After the Conclusion of the Cristian Reconquista in 1492 the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella, where Cristopher Columbus received Royal Endorsement for hos Expedition. The Palaces were partially altered in the Renaissance style.

Alhambra’s  last flowering of Islamic palaces were built for the last Muslim emirs in Spain during the Decline of the Nasrid dynasty, who were increasingly subject to the Cristian Kings of Castile. Alhambra was rediscovered following the defeat of Napoleon, who had conducted  destruction  of the site.
The Palace buildings are quadrangular in plan with all the rooms  opening  to the central court Column arcades, fountains with running water, and reflecting pools were used to add to the aesthetic and functional complexity. In every case, the exterior was left plain and austere. Sun and wind were freely admitted. Blue, red, and a golden yellow, all somewhat faded through lapse of time and exposure, are the colors chiefly employed.
The main reason to visit Granada is to see Alhambra. After short walk in center part of the city of Granada we  (me and 2 my friends  both Vasco Valkov – grandpa and grandson living in Lisboa, Portugal, and bringing me to the Southern Spain by their private car) took the bus and went to the hill on the top to is Alhambra. We spend all day long walking around and tries to  miss any one of it’s wonders.
I bought tickets for Alhambra from Seattle for 3 of us – me Stan, Vasko Senior and Vasko Junior. We drove around the city, look around the Center and went to Alhambra. There we spent  6 full hours to walk around in the Castle and the  Gardens. I took many photos inside and I took some from Internet for the gardens. The best of them are shown in this BlogSpot for Alhambra.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTH SPAIN, GRANADA 1, ANDALUSIA, SPAIN, MAY 2018

The first city of South Spain we visited with Vasko , my best friend from Angola (1986-87) ,who lives now in Lisboa, Barcarena permanently with his car was Granada. We missed with Margy in 1978 South Spain, We stopped on the way from Roma with our car to Lisboa in Barcelona,  Saragossa, Madrid and Toledo and on back way to Biscay Bay in France Valladolid and Burgos. Vasko’ s minivan vas driven by his Grandson Vasko too. To make difference between them I extended their names to Vasko Senior and Vasko Junior. Vasko Junior is now student in University of Lisboa. He has opportunity to visit too south Spain. I reserved Hotels for this journey from Seattle, WA.

Granada is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Darro, the Genil, the Monachil and the Beiro. It sits at an average elevation of 738 m above sea level, yet is only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast, the Costa Tropical. Nearby is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, where the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 were held

We walked around the center of Granada, entered in the City Cathedral, took a lot of photos and went to Alhambra, the main reason to visit Granada.

The most beautiful building in all Catholic  cities in Europe and America is the city Cathedral. The all are Gothic style, more decorated by statues and frescoes than East Orthodox . In the last are mostly  ikons.

In this BlogSpot are posted some photos from the way. city and Cathedral, the main picturesque object in Granada.