In the eastern part of the Spanish city of Granada is the Alhambra architectural and park ensemble: a defensive fortification that turned into a luxurious royal residence, and then became a museum. We considered it in our last article.
In the same article, after getting acquainted with a brief history of the emergence of the Alhambra, we will go on a virtual journey to this place with a 360 ° view using the wonderful AirPano and Google Maps services.
AirPano is the world's largest resource for providing the highest quality 360° photos, usually taken from a bird's eye view. Filming is carried out mainly from helicopters and drones, but planes, airships and hot air balloons are also used.
With the AirPano service, you can admire the picturesque views not only of the Alhambra, but of the whole of Granada from a bird's eye view, using only the keyboard and mouse (also works on mobile devices):
- You can rotate the panorama with the mouse or use the arrows on the keyboard;
- To zoom in or out, scroll the mouse wheel;
- The "helicopter" icon indicates the points to which you can move. To get to such a point, click on the "helicopter";
- To descend to the ground, click on the "traveler" icon.
☛ Go directly to the virtual panorama
Google Maps gives you the opportunity to see the world for free, explore new places and plan future trips at any time without leaving your home.
With the help of Google Maps, you can virtually walk through the most outstanding buildings of the Alhambra using only a keyboard and mouse (also works on mobile devices):
- Move around the map using the arrow keys to move forward or backward, hover over the desired location;
- To zoom in or out, scroll the mouse wheel;
- The "X" icon indicates the points to which you can move. To get to such a point, click on it.
☛ Go directly to the virtual map
The Alhambra was built on a hilly terrace – on the site of a dilapidated Arab fortress, the first mention of which dates back to the 1238th century. In XNUMX, Granada was captured by Mohammed I ibn Nasr, who made the city the capital of the Emirate of Granada. A settlement with a similar status needs its own citadel: this was the start for the construction of the complex, which received the name "Alhambra". From Arabic, the name is translated as "red", since it was this color that the building material mined here, on the hill of La Sabica, had.
The first building of the Alhambra was the 27-meter Observation (Patrol) tower Torre de la Vela (Torre de la Vela). Behind it appeared the six-story Ommage Tower (Torre del Homenaje) with a height of 26 meters. It is believed that Mohammed I himself lived in it, and a prison and a food warehouse were located on the ground floor.
The heirs of the first emir of Granada, Mohammed II and Mohammed III, continued to expand the government residence, but in the first centuries of its history, the Alhambra castle performed mostly military tasks, and all buildings were focused on the defense of the city. Everything changed in the XIV century, when Yusuf I and his heir Mohammed V carried out a global restructuring of the fortress, starting to turn it into a luxurious palace complex. Over the following centuries, the Alhambra continued its development, and now the former defensive fortress has a length of 740 meters, a maximum width of 205 meters, covering an area of 142 thousand square meters. meters.
The heart of the Alhambra is the Alcazaba (translated as “fortress”): it was here that the first fortifications appeared. In addition to the towers of Ommage and Watchtower, Cubic, Armory, Powder and other towers have survived to this day. Nearby are the Nasrid Palaces (Los Palacios Nazaríes): the residences of the rulers of the Emirate of Granada from different times.
The oldest part of this palace complex bears the name "Meshuar" (from the Arabic name of the place where the council of ministers meets). Built in the middle of the 45th century, the Comares Palace (from the Arabic word for stained glass) was the official residence of the emir, and the XNUMX-meter Comares tower is the highest in the entire Alhambra. Legend has it that it was in it that Christopher Columbus convinced the kings to organize an expedition to India to the west, which led to the discovery of America. And, finally, by the end of the XIV century, the Nasrid Palaces were supplemented by the magnificent Palace of Lions – the private chambers of Emir Mohammed V.
In 1492, Granada was conquered by the Catholic kings, and three decades later, King Charles V wanted to have his own property in the Alhambra. However, he did not manage to live in a new residence: moreover, construction work was constantly stopped, and as a result, the roof at the Palace of Charles V (El palacio de Carlos V) appeared only in the XNUMXth century. Now this building in the Renaissance style is the Museum of Fine Arts.
The Alhambra complex also includes the Medina (a residential area that includes private houses, bazaars, baths, mosques, monasteries and temples); another residence of the emirs – the Generalife, whose appearance was formed from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth centuries; as well as gardens, the most famous of which is the Alhambra Forest (Bosque de la Alhambra) surrounding the citadel. It was smashed in the XNUMXth century: by that time, attacks were no longer to be feared, whereas before all the trees around the fortress were cut down, which made it possible to notice the approach of the enemy from afar.
Surrounded by greenery, the Alhambra is a truly outstanding monument, interesting both for its large objects and for the smallest details of carvings and paintings. The Alhambra is often called the highest achievement of Moorish art in Western Europe. In 1984, UNESCO added the fortress to the list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. You can admire this landmark of Spain with the help of panoramas AirPano or virtual Google Maps.
Alhambra: Virtual Panorama
