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Mexuar
Tiles on the wall of the Mexuar Council Hall, which served as the entrance to the Nasrid palace. Plus Ultra was the motto of king Charles V. -
Zellij in Mexuar
This style of mosaic tilework is called zellij. Charles V was not only King of Spain, but also Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, and Lord of the Netherlands. Maybe I missed some titles. Anyway, the double-headed eagle represents the Holy Roman Empire. -
Mosaic in Nasrid palace
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Hall of the Ambassadors
The Nasrid palaces are very crowded. Very crowded indeed. -
Hall of the Ambassadors
Wall decorations in the Salón de los Embajadores, which is the largest room in Alhambra. The inscriptions are Qur'anic verses and poems. -
Hall of the Ambassadors
Detail on the Hall walls, part of a larger inscription in Kufic script. One can still see traces of blue colour, as these arabesque and geometric motifs were originally painted with bright colours. -
Court of the Myrtles
Patio de los Arrayanes is the center of the Comares Palace. The reflective pool is 34 m long! -
More mosaic
Mosaic in Comares Palace, part of the Nasrid Palaces. Begun by Isma'il in the early 13th century and modified by Yusuf I and Muhammad V. -
Court of the Myrtles
Court of the Myrtles with the Comares Tower in the background. The name of the Court comes from the myrtle hedges. Built in the 14th century. -
Court of the Lions
The Lion Fountain that gives the name to the Court. On the rim of the fountain, there's a poem by Ibn Zamrak, describing the beauty of the fountain. -
Court of the Lions
The Court was built by Muhammad V around 1380. -
Hall of the Abencerrajes
The ceiling in the Hall of Abencerrajes. The decorations are called muqarnas, and in the museum is a very instructive exhibition on how such a ceiling was made. Basically a lot A LOT of tiny pieces (alveoles) put together. -
Court of the Lions
One of the pavillions in the Court. -
Ornaments
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Another ceiling
Ceiling in one of the side halls, covered in muqarnas. -
Zellij in Alhambra
More wonderful zellij pattern in the palace. -
Stucco in Alhambra
Detail of stucco on the wall indicating that the decorations were indeed colourful. -
View from Alhambra
Wonderful view towards Albaicin and Sacromonte. -
Church of Santa María de la Alhambra
The only way to take pictures without the crowds it so hide them behind the bushes :-) -
Puerta de la Justicia
The southern entrance to Alhambra palace, built in 1348 by Yusuf I. -
Alhambra hammam
Ceiling in the Alhambra's public hammam, constructed under Muhammad III. -
Alhambra hammam
Every room you enter has more holes in the ceiling. The rooms follow a standard layout: changing room, cold room, hot room, boiler room. -
Alcazaba
Interesting multifoil arches in the Taifa palace (11th century). -
Patio de la Alberca
Patio de la Alberca (Pool courtyard) in the Nasrid palace. -
Alcazaba
What lovely patterns!