Paris1972-Versailles2003

I am again found me old paper pictures of dear places and wonderful memories, that can keep in my blog for the memories of always. We said Spain is everything under the sun !!! I came to the City long time ago, and many friends and honorary member of peña Albaicin of the Real Madrid CF in Granada ! let me tell you a bit on these monuments and do read/see my other post on them. Some of the monuments that are a must to see in my dear Spain, Therefore, here is my take on this is Granada !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

The Alhambra is a superb set of constructions and gardens. The trees are dense there, and give pleasant shadow and freshness, embellished by the abundant water and streams. It was the largest political and aristocratic center of the Muslim West. The Palace enclosure is made up of great beauty rectangular shape, with many fountains, without forgetting the Nasrides buildings where kings and their servants remained. The oldest building is Alcazaba. One of the most important constructions is the watchtower, which offers a spectacular panorama of the Alhambra. The Alhambra had become the royal residence and the court of Granada, in the middle of the 13C, following the establishment of the Nazarí kingdom and the construction of the first palace, by the founding king Mohammed Ibn Yusuf Ben Nasr, more known under Alhamar. Throughout the 13C 14C and 15C, the fortress has become a citadel with high walls and defense towers, which houses two main areas: the military zone or Alcazaba, the royal guard barracks, and the medina or palace city, where the Nazari palace and the remains of the houses of the nobles and the commoners who lived there. The Palace of Carlos V (which was built after the city liberated in 1492 by Catholic kings), is also in the medina. The name Alhambra has its origins in an Arabic word meaning “Red or purple castle”, perhaps because of the shade of the towers and walls which completely surround the Sabica hill, which is under the light of silver stars, but under the sun takes on a golden shade. There is no reference to the Alhambra as a royal residence until the 13C, although the fortification existed from the 9C. The first kings of Granada, the Ziritas, had their castles and palaces in the hills of Albaicin, and there are still some. The Ziries monarchs were most likely the emirs that built the Alhambra, from 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 continues with repairs. The construction of palaces such as the Casa Real Vieja or old royal house dates from the 14C and is the work of two great kings: Yusuf I and Muhammed V. When you are the first is attributed, among others, the Cuarto de Comares, the Puerta de la Justicia, the thermal baths and a few towers. The latter son, Muhammed V, finished the embellishment of the palaces with the Salon de Leones or Lions room, as well as other rooms and fortifications.The lions court and its fountain form one of the most beautiful sets of the enclosure. The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic kings conquered Granada.  Subsequently, several structures to house the notables, the military barracks, a Franciscan church and monastery were built.

The Catedral de la Incarnacion de Granada , or the Cathedral of the Incarnation is the seat of the Archdiocese of Granada. A bit of history I like tell su that following the reconquest of the city in 1492, the Catholic kings envisaged the construction of a cathedral on the site of the former Grande Mosque Nasride. As of May 21, 1492, the cathedral plans were founded. Its construction was begun in 1518 in the center of the old Muslim Medina.  The project was nevertheless abandoned shortly after the start of the site on March 25, 1523, the date of the foundation stone. While its earliest plans had Gothic designs, most of the church’s construction occurred when the Spanish Renaissance style was supplanting the Gothic in Spanish architecture. Foundations for the church were laid atop the site of the city’s main mosque. Diego de Siloé worked from 1528 until his death, in 1563 on the structure from ground to cornice, planning the triforium and five naves instead of the usual three. The cathedral took 181 years to build. It would have been even grander had the two 81-meter towers included in the plans been built; however, the project remained incomplete for various reasons, among them financial. Finally, it was completed the whole of the work in July 1703, The cathedral had been intended as the royal mausoleum by Carlos I of Spain, but Felipe II of Spain moved the site for his father’s and subsequent kings’ tombs to San Lorenzo de El Escorial monastery (see post) outside of Madrid.

The most striking external element is none other than the majestic main facade, drawn in baroque style in 1667. Quite purified, it is designed in the manner of the Arcs of Roman Triomphe. On the upper register, four statues representing the Old and the New Testament, Saint Raphaël and Saint Michael sort on the Corniche, in front of each of the pillars. In the space of the central arch takes place a starry rosette flanked by two pilasters and surmounted by a lily vase, symbolizing the virginity of the Virgin. The space of the collateral arcs is decorated with stained glass rosettes, flanked by pilasters and crowned with a triangular pediment. Of the two towers initially planned to supervise the facade, only the north tower was built, although its elevation was limited to 50 meters, in place of the 80 meters envisaged. It is decorated according to the tastes of the Renaissance.

The interior space of the cathedral is very large. The monument’s plan is clearly inspired by Gothic architecture. With its five naves and its non -salient transept, the major chapel of the choir or Capilla Mayor is surmounted by a splendid dome 45 meters high, supported on Corinthian pillars, The stained glass windows, considered as masterpieces of the Spanish Renaissance in the 16C. They represent themes linked to the life of the Virgin, the Apostles, the Evangelists, the Fathers of the Church and the Mystery of Redemption. On the chapel pilasters take place the statues of the apostles. The chapel is decorated in profusion,  according to more baroque tastes than Renaissance.  It is  decorated  with prayers  of Catholic kings, represented kneeling and surmounted  by  the busts of Adam and Ève. The  ambulatory envelops the choir and the Capilla Mayor. Lower than the latter, it is distinguished by its absidial chapels, separated by the powerful foothills which punctuate its composition. By the southern portal of the transept, we access the Capilla Real or royal chapel of Granada, built against the buttresses of the cathedral, to house the mausoleum of the Catholic kings.

There many other things to describe it ,it is huge not enough on one post or several ,you need to see it, The main ones me think are the (Spanish) the Capilla de la Virgen del Pilar, Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen ,Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Las Angustias, Capilla de Nuestra Señora la Antigua ,Capilla de Santa Lucía, Capilla del Cristo de Las Penas ,Capilla de Santa Teresa, Capilla de San Blas, Capilla de San Cecilla,Capilla de San Sebastián, Capilla de Santa Ana , Capilla de la Santísima Trinidad , and Capilla de San Miguel as well as the Sacristy,

The official Catedral de la Incarnacion of Granada : https://catedraldegranada.com/

The Granada tourist office on the Cathedral :https://turismo.granada.org/en/cathedral

The Granada tourist office on the Alhambra : https://turismo.granada.org/en/alhambra-granada

The official Alhambra ticket purchase and reservation :https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/

There you go folks, one of the best of my Spain, and plenty to see in architecture, history, personalities, and monuments, you should be there and we will be back, eventually, Again,hope you enjoy this post on this is Granada !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!