It was interesting to note how many people asked “where?” when we said we were going to or had gone to The Alhambra. It is one of the top destinations in Spain, and it sure was busy when we were there. Even one of our drivers in Spain said that he had never been there.

In many ways, the history of The Alhambra reflects the history of Spain.

The complex was begun in 1238 by Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, the first Nasrid emir and founder of the Emirate of Granada, the last Muslim state of Al-Andalus. The most significant construction campaigns, which gave the royal palaces much of their defining character, took place in the 14th century during the reigns of Yusuf I and Muhammad V. After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered. In 1526, Charles V commissioned a new Renaissance-style palace in direct juxtaposition with the Nasrid palaces, but it was left uncompleted in the early 17th century.

The site fell into disrepair over the following centuries, with its buildings occupied by squatters. The troops of Napoleon destroyed parts of it in 1812. After this, the Alhambra became an attraction for British, American, and other European Romantic travelers. The most influential of them was Washington Irving, whose Tales of the Alhambra (1832) brought international attention to the site. The Alhambra was one of the first Islamic monuments to become the object of modern scientific study and has been the subject of numerous restorations since the 19th century. It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We booked a private tour from our hotel in Cordoba to Granada through Spain Day Tours. The package included a driver to the complex then a private guide who took us all through the various gardens and buildings. He was extremely knowledgeable and steered us to many of the “secret” places that others might or might not have seen. It was a great way to visit without having to also navigate trains and buses.

(Special thanks to James The (Retired) Wine Guy for his excellent recommendation!)