The Amazing Alhambra Palace

We were able to spend the day at the Alhambra Palace in Granada and it was absolutely spectacular! We were on a bit of a time crunch because we had both worked on our computers until about 4 am, and had to be at the Nasrid Palaces by 9 am for our tour, so we hoofed it as fast as possible through the streets of Granada to the palace, which happens to be at the top of a very steep hill.  We arrived huffing and puffing and sweaty, but just in time!  As we came around the corner to the entryway we couldn't believe the amount of intricate bass relief carving above the very basic doorway.

Once inside the palace the designs and colors were absolutely amazing,  The bass relief carvings are from the reign of the Moors, around 800 bc to 1400 bc.

This is a ceiling of inlaid hand carved wood.  Each tiny piece is carved and painted by hand, then fitted into the ceiling.

The highlight of The Alhambra Palace is the Courtyard of the Lions, where there is a limestone fountain sitting on the backs of carved lions.  The fountain was recently taken apart and sent away to be cleaned and restored - it was replaced with a replica fountain during that time, but the original is back in place.

The entire courtyard and many other places in the Nasrid Palaces are filled with bass relief carvings.  These are made by coating the wall with plaster, then carving intricate designs into the plaster before it dries.  When it dries the honeycomb designs are visible when light and shadow fall upon the walls.

The views from the Palace are amazing as well....

I would have had so many more photos of the Alhambra, but my camera battery died about 25 minutes into the tour - BLAST!!  But that was OK because Gary had his camera.  Which disappeared at the end of the day.  We have no idea what happened to it.  One minute we had it and then it was gone...

Oh well, somewhere I have photos on my iPod and when I figure out how to download them I will share!