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| The beauty of the Nasrid Palaces is reflected in the Courtyard of the Myrtles |
Sunday, November 3, 2019 Granada
Next on our Alhambra tour, we entered the area of the Moorish palaces. There are three independent areas in the Nasrid Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes): the Mexuar, which corresponds to the semipublic part of the palace for justice administration and State affairs; the Comares Palace (Palacio de Comares), which was the official residence of the king; and the Palace of the Lions (Palacio de los Leones), which was the private area of the palace, where the Harem was located. These areas had different functions, but also unique artistic characteristics. The Comares Palace (Palacio de Comares) was decorated in a typically Muslim way, but the Palace of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) presents Christian influences, reportedly as a consequence of the friendship between Mohammed V and his Castilian counterpart Pedro I (of Cordoba fame).
In the Mexuar area, the ceilings are inlayed wood, the floors are tiled in patterns, the walls have ceramic mosaics in Islamic patterns and the upper walls are carved stucco. It was used for audiences with the rulers or judges, but later converted to a chapel during the Christian area. The wall tiles are most memorable in this area.
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| Entering the Mexuar Palace area, used for public functions, such as meetings with judges |
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| The Mexuar area has been greatly remodels many times, including being used for a Christian church |
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| The patterns of the wall tiles is particularly striking |
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| Woodwork and windows have been refurbished, including after a powder magazine explosion in the late 1500s. |
The Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes) is named for the myrtle bushes that surround the central pond and the bright green color which contrasts with the white marble of the patio. The pond divides the patio and receives its water from two fountains (one at each end of the pond).
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| Peaceful reflections in the Courtyard of the Myrtles |
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| The pools are filled via fountains on either end, and the Comares Tower is reflected majestically |
The Comares Tower (Torre de Comares) is the highest tower in the Alhambra. It is named for the stained glass windows in the balconies that light the large inside hall, which are called comarías. The tower has several windows on its four façades, and the Hall of the Ambassadors (Salón de los Embajadores) is located inside the tower.
It is said that the Council that decided to surrender the city of Granada to the
Catholic Monarchs took place inside this tower. The legend also says that it was
inside this tower that Christopher Columbus convinced the Catholic Monarchs to
give their approval to his expeditions to the Indies leading to discovering America on October 12th 1492 and that the Queen offered her jewelry to sponsor the journey.
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| Two stories tall, the Hall of the Ambassadors |
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| The ceiling is made of 8000 pieces of wood, representing the seven pillars of heaven |
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| Pierced windows at the top of the tower allow filtered light into the hall |
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| The walls are covered with plaster carvings, including quotes from the Qu'aran |
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