The Alhambra was so called because of its reddish walls (in Arabic, («qa'lat al-Hamra'» means Red Castle). It is located on top of the hill al-Sabika, on the left bank of the river Darro, to the west of the city of Granada and in front of the neighbourhoods of the Albaicin and of the Alcazaba.
The first historical documents known about the Alhambra date from the 9th century and they refer to Sawwar ben Hamdun who, in the year 889, had to seek refuge in the Alcazaba, a fortress, and had to repair it due to the civil fights that were destroying the Caliphate of Cordoba, to which Granada then belonged. This site subsequently started to be extended and populated.
The castle of the Alhambra was added to the city's area within the ramparts in the 11th century. In spite of this, it was not until the arrival of the first king of the Nasrid dynasty that the royal residence was established in the Alhambra.
First of all, the old part of the Alcazaba was reinforced and the Watch Tower and the Keep (Torre del Homenaje) were built. Water was canalised from the river Darro, warehouses and deposits were built and the palace and the ramparts were started. Public baths and the Mosque (Mezquita), on the site of which the current Church of Saint Mary were later built.
Yusuf I and Mohammed V are responsible for the improvements of the Alcazaba and the palaces, the Patio of the Lions and its annexed rooms, the Justice Gate, the extension and decoration of the towers, the building of the Baths, the Comares Room and the Hall of the Boat.
From the time of the Catholic Monarchs until today we must underline that Charles V ordered the demolition of a part of the complex in order to build the palace which bears his name. We must also remember the construction of the Emperor's Chambers and the Queen's Dressing Room and that from the 18th century the Alhambra was abandoned. During the French domination part of the fortress was blown up and it was not until the 19th century that the process of repairing, restoring and preserving the complex started and is still maintained nowadays.
The first historical documents known about the Alhambra date from the 9th century and they refer to Sawwar ben Hamdun who, in the year 889, had to seek refuge in the Alcazaba, a fortress, and had to repair it due to the civil fights that were destroying the Caliphate of Cordoba, to which Granada then belonged. This site subsequently started to be extended and populated.
The castle of the Alhambra was added to the city's area within the ramparts in the 11th century. In spite of this, it was not until the arrival of the first king of the Nasrid dynasty that the royal residence was established in the Alhambra.
First of all, the old part of the Alcazaba was reinforced and the Watch Tower and the Keep (Torre del Homenaje) were built. Water was canalised from the river Darro, warehouses and deposits were built and the palace and the ramparts were started. Public baths and the Mosque (Mezquita), on the site of which the current Church of Saint Mary were later built.
Yusuf I and Mohammed V are responsible for the improvements of the Alcazaba and the palaces, the Patio of the Lions and its annexed rooms, the Justice Gate, the extension and decoration of the towers, the building of the Baths, the Comares Room and the Hall of the Boat.
From the time of the Catholic Monarchs until today we must underline that Charles V ordered the demolition of a part of the complex in order to build the palace which bears his name. We must also remember the construction of the Emperor's Chambers and the Queen's Dressing Room and that from the 18th century the Alhambra was abandoned. During the French domination part of the fortress was blown up and it was not until the 19th century that the process of repairing, restoring and preserving the complex started and is still maintained nowadays.
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