Generalife, Granada the Leisure Palace of the Granada Kings

Generalife, Granada

• The Leisure Palace & Gardens of the Granada Muslim Sultans (Kings) built in the 13th century.
• They used it to get away from the rigorous of Court life & of Ruling.
• It was also a farming estate, look at the lower terraces in between The Generalife gardens & Palace and the Alhambra to see it still is. In a way it is a little bit like King Charles having Highgrove, Balmoral & Sandringham Estates.
• Located on the Hill of the Sun (Cerro del Sol).

Main Entrance Pavilion

Description of Main Entrance

• This is the Main Entrance to both
  • Generalife.
  • Alhambra  & Alcazba.
• The location of the Ticket Office. They are usually sold out so buy in advance online
• Toilets
• There are nearby Restaurants both inside & outside the monument.
• Also nearby are the Bus Stop, Tourist Hop-on train stop, Taxi Rank & Car Park.

Tickets

• The Generalife & Alhambra are such popular attractions that tickets are often sold out, in high season often months in advance.
• We strongly advise that you book online as early as possible and this can be done below.

My Walk around the General Life with Photographs & Information

• From the Main entrance left & centre gates bear right, right gate go straight on & follow the main path along the Walk of the Cypress Trees (Paseo de los Cipreses). Cypress tree are tall slim conifers. Do not take the narrow path with steps.
• After 75m you will soon see through the trees on your left, a tower and curtain wall of The Alhambra
• A further 55m you will arrive at a junction of 4 paths, going clockwise:
  • On the Right. A short path to the Bridge over the Royal Ditch of the Alhambra (Acequia Real de la Alhambra) & then the Entrance through the wall surrounding The Alhambra.
    On the left of the bridge is the Water aqueduct supplying water to the Alhambra complex.
    If you are not visiting the Alhambra you should have a look at this, Else you can visit later on tour return to this junction.
  • Next is the path we will take
  • After that is the path we will return on. The exit from the Generalife Palace takes you to this path.
  • Finally the path you have just come along. This is the Main Exit.
    There are additional exits from The Alhambra near the Charles V Palace.
  • With a choice of Transport
    • A pleasent walk downhill into Central Granada
    • A Taxi from inside the walls
    • Bus or City Tourist Train from outside the walls

Court of the Dismount (Patio del Descabalgamiento)

• Also called Courtyard of the Stable
• The Courtyard contains 2 large stone blocks to help horse riders mount or dismount
• There is also a horse trough style drinking fountain

Guards Courtyard (Patio de la Guardia)

• Just inside the doorway are recesses with benches where the guards could sit.
• The courtyard has tree and a low central Basin fountain.
• Opposite the entrance are steps that leads to the Court of the Main Canal

Court of the Main Canal (Patio de la Acequia)

• Also called the Acequia Courtyard or Patio of the Irrigation Ditch

Description of Court of the Main Canal

• Originally the outer viewing arches on the left colonnade were a solid wall except for the central one that juts out from the external wall.
• Of particular interest is the central arch on the left. Note its low windows.
  • This was because it was common Arab custom to sit or lie on cushions on the floor, The low windows allowed for an excellent view from the low position.
  • Originally designed as an enclosed garden & water feature with a view point on the west side.
• Then the west side was opened up with viewing from every arch on the west by the Chistians

Location of Court of the Main Canal

• After entering the Palace complex.This Court is the first main courtyard you reach

Royal Room (Sala Regia)

(Torre de Ismail)

Sultana Courtyard (Patio de la Sultana)

• Also called: The Court of the Sultana’s Cypress Tree

Water Stairs (Escalera del Agua)

Romantic Gazebo (Mirador Romántico)

Interactive 360⁰ Photograph of The Old Dead Cypress Tree

Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom

Water supply for the Generalife

• The Moors were masters of Hydraulic Engineering, far superior to the Christians. Probably due the the desert style countries they came from.
• Besides several Springs on the hillside above them.
• There main source of water came 6 kilometres away upstream on the river Daro, and was transported by gravity via channels or underground pipe works to Generalife
• Then by aqueducts to The Alhambra & other places across the Cuesta del Rey Chico (or de los Chinos) Valley.
• Throughout the entire area they built large storage ponds & underground storage systems called Aljibe.
• They lifted water by waterwheels or by pressure in sealed pipe work if the source was higher than the outlet.

Water Supply Guided Tours

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