Alhambra

The calm tinkle of water is the overriding first impression of the Alhambra palace. Built in a particularly arid spot, it is none the less a veritable park of water features—fountains run into ponds into little man-made streams and channels into larger pools. The second thing you will probably notice is the way, as the water features are like art, the rest of the details of the palace are as well—think intricate woodwork, careful mosaics and ceramics and complex calligraphy and designs rendered in plaster and tile. One particularly impressive room has a roof of inlaid cedar wood panelling made up of 8,000 pieces of jigsaw. Further back in the king’s private quarters are themed rooms, many with indoor pools and channels.
The Alhambra is the world’s most carefully kept Muslim palace and dates originally from the 13th and 14th centuries. Originally built as a fortress in red stone, only parts of the original Alhambra remain, much was redone in the new ‘pleasure palace’. The surrounding wall looks fairly weak and is more to offer the harem girls nice views than to defend the kings of Granada. The Alhambra is now said to be one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture.