1238 and 1358Constructed on a plateau that overlooks the city of Granada, the Alhambra was built chiefly between 1238 and 1358, in the reigns of Ibn al-Aḥmar, founder of the Naṣrid dynasty, and his successors. The splendid decorations of the interior are ascribed to Yūsuf I (died 1354).
Did the Muslims build the Alhambra?
Its intimate spaces are built at a human scale that visitors find elegant and inviting. The Alhambra, an abbreviation of the Arabic: Qal'at al-Hamra, or red fort, was built by the Nasrid Dynasty (1232–1492)—the last Muslims to rule in Spain.
What is the oldest part of the Alhambra?
the AlcazabaThe oldest part of the Alhambra is the Alcazaba, a fortress with multiple towers. Though the Nasrid dynasty fortified the Alcazaba and used it as a military base for the royal guard of the sultan, experts believe the structure was built before Muslims arrived to Granada.
Did slaves build the Alhambra?
The Alhambra, which resembles a fairy-tale palace, was constructed by slave labor in an era of economic decline, plague, and political violence.
How many Nasrid Palaces are there?
How Many Nasrid Palaces Are There? The monumental complex known as the Nasrid Palaces is made up of several important palaces: 1) the Mexuar, 2) the Comares Palace, 3) the Palace of the Lions and the Christian constructions added later and 4) the Partal Palace: 1.
Who started building the Alhambra more than 800 years ago?
The monarchs Ziries were in all probability the emirs who built the Alhambra, beginning in 1238. The founder of the dynasty, Muhammed Al-Ahmar, began with the restoration of the old fort. His work was completed by his son Muhammed II, whose immediate successors continued the repairs.
How old is the Nasrid Palace?
Was Alhambra originally white?
The name Alhambra derives from the color of the red clay from which the fort is made. The buildings of the Alhambra were originally whitewashed; however, seen today they are reddish.
Who first built the Alhambra?
king Mohammed ibn Yusuf Ben NasrDesigned as a military zone at the beginning, the Alhambra became the royal residence and court of Granada in the mid-13th century after the establishment of the Nasrid Kingdom and the construction of the first palace by the founding king Mohammed ibn Yusuf Ben Nasr, better known as Alhamar.
When was Nasrid Palace built?
The Nasrid Palaces were built at the request of Muhammad V in the second half of the XIV century, taking advantage of what was already built by his father Yusuf I since 1335.
Who was the last Nasrid king?
Muḥammad XII, (died 1527), last Naṣrid sultan of Granada, Spain. His reign (1482–92) was marked by incessant civil strife and the fall of Granada to Ferdinand and Isabella, the Roman Catholic rulers of Aragon and Castile.
When was the Nasrid Palace built?
The founder of the dynasty, Alhamar, began to build in the 13th century, although the buildings that have survived to the present date date mainly from the 14th century. These palaces enclose within their walls the refinement and delicacy of the last Hispanic-Arab governors of Al Andalus, the Nasrid.
Did slaves build Alhambra?
The Alhambra, which resembles a fairy-tale palace, was constructed by slave labor in an era of economic decline, plague, and political violence.