Menu del Dia before going into the Alhambra

Generalife Gardens

Generalife Gardens

Patio de la Acequia

Patio de la Acequia

Wonderful views wherever you look.

And the views also come in pairs …

Wisteria graces many of the walks around the gardens in Springtime

The beautiful Wine Gate (Puerta del Vino)

No, not mobile phones!

The Torre de la Vela (Watch Tower) of the Alcazaba

The Alcazaba from the upper platform of the Watch Tower

The Palace of Carlo V

South wall of the Cuarto Dorado (Golden Room)

The Royal Palace ceilings have the most intricate carvings.

Patio de los Leones

Patio de los Leones

North side of the Pario de los Arrayanes

Sala de los Abencerrajes

Nazrid architecture

Beautiful Arches everywhere you look.

Partal Torre de las Damas

Village life

Peaceful Gardens within the Palace Areas.

Menu del Día - 9 euros at this place. We had great lunch of salad/soup, spit roasted chicken and dessert. Drinks are extra. After parking the car and before you go in, there is a row of restaurants - we picked the one with this outside balcony/terrace at the top)

Generalife comes from the Arabic words Jinmah al 'Arif which means "Garden of the Illustrious Ones" or Noblest of all Gardens"

Means Patio of the Canal. Lined with plants and flowers, it is a remnant of the original four canals.

Built by Mohammed V this did have any protective properties - it seems to have simply divided the northern palace area from the village in the south

Listening to the audio guides available at the entrance in a language of your choice

This massive tower dominates the skyline of Granada. In 1492 this is where Ferdinand and Isabella hoisted their flag.

Erected in 1526, this huge Renaissance palace marked the Christian victory over the Muslims. Indeed it was financed by a special tax that Muslims had to pay to "buy back" their religious freedom. It houses the Museo Nacional de Arte-Hispano-Musulman and the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes.

To be found in the Mexuar palace - one of the three to make up the Royal Palace.

The Lion Patio is considered the pinnacle of Nasridian architecture. Unfortunately when we visited, the famous lion fountain had been removed for cleaning.

In both palaces and ordinary houses, visitors to Andalusia will find colourful tiles and mosiacs decorating the walls - now a true Andalusian trademark but which originated in Islamic art.

South of the Patio de los Leones is this hall with a marvellous muqarnas dome in the shape of an eight pointed star. 16 windows in the base of the dome provide light in the room.

The more you walk around the palaces, the more intricate and intense the sculpting - truly amazing!

The Tower of the Ladies ... this is where the concubines were kept!

Parts of the village of Alhambra are accessible to the public without tickets.