The name Alhambra comes from the Arabic word 'al-hamra', which can be translated 'the red fort' and it sits majestically in an elevated location outside the old town.
Tips for the visit:
- Book tickets in advance
- Be on time as the tickets have exact times of admission
- Take advantage of the drinking fountains with fresh cold water from the Sierra Nevada (in Granada and the Alhambra)…very good in summer
- I can recommend the audio guide as this allows you to discover the palaces/gardens at your own pace
- Finally, don’t be disappointed as there are always many tourists (especially in summer)
Special place to stay:
Parador Granada (http://paradorgranada.com/)
You will actually stay inside the Alhambra as the parador is part of the palace. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows you to wander through the Alhambra before and after the tourist crowds are there. You’ll have beautiful views and good kitchen…but this has a Price.
Please, take into consideration that this is a historical building (a museum itself) and no standardized hotel. Therefore the rooms may have different sizes, etc.
-> in case you don’t want to stay there you can also enjoy a meal of coffee and enjoy the views.
Book to read:
'Tales of the Alhambra' from Washington Irving.
"Such is the Alhambra—a Moslem pile in the midst of a Christian land, an Oriental palace amidst the Gothic edifices of the West, an elegant memento of a brave, intelligent, and graceful people who conquered, ruled and passed away."
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