The Alhambra, visit one...'Generalife'

The Alhambra consists of three parts, the magnificent Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba fortress.

Our first stop was the Generalife gardens which are not, as you might suspect, sponsored by any insurance company, there appears no exact explanation for its name. Wiki has this. It served as the summer residence for the sultans of the Alhambra. Its current layout gives a good example of Arab architecture and an impression of how the gardens might have looked in the past.

It is  divided into four terraced gardens, a residential area and cultivate grounds surrounding the estate.

Continuing through the gardens you come across a set of stairs, then another, leading to the private quarters of the Sultan's summer residence.

The views over the valley are spectacular.

Visiting the Alhambra...step(s) 1 , getting there.

There are a *number of ways to get to the Alhambra which sits on a hill looking over the city of Granada, we walked, which of course meant a fairly steep climb up the winding path which we reached from the narrow street of Carrera del Darro, along the banks of  the river Darro.

You pass Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro y San Pablo (Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul)  then along passed the Flamenco dancer statue and the restaurants on P.º del Padre Manjón, before crossing  over the river onto Cta. del Rey Chico.

Then it's all uphill from there!

This path actually takes you along the back perimeter wall of the Ahambra itself. As you do the climb you notice the presence of water at a number of points these were part of an incredible medieval water system developed for the the palace to ensure its lack of reliance from outside its walls.

Water is everywhere inside this 13th-Century palatial complex, one of the world's most iconic examples of Moorish architecture. It was used to cool the buildings, to feed the decorative fountains in the grand rooms and charming courtyards plus to water the famed gardens of the 'Generalife', the former summer palace next door.

Another popular walking route is up Cuesta de Gómerez from Plaza Nueva ( through the 'Puerta de las Granadas' (Pomegranates Gate).

*You can take the little mini bus C30 or C32 from Plaza Isabel La Católica for under 2 euros. They depart every 8-12 minutes 

You get off   'Alhambra - Generalife 2'.

 Or a taxi (there are many in the city) for under 10 euro.

Wednesday for windows...even more from Almeria.