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The Alhambra
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Posted On :
Jun-15-2010
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Article Word Count :
437
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One of the most romantic places to visit when vacationing in Spain would be the Alhambra (the red one). This is a palace located in Granada, Spain with a wide expanse of gardens.
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One of the most romantic places to visit when vacationing in Spain would be the Alhambra (the red one). This is a palace located in Granada, Spain with a wide expanse of gardens. It is said to be one of the most romantic tourist attractions with the Sierra Mountains providing a breathtaking background. The majestic red fortress wall and towers; hence the meaning of the name; provide that mythical air of fairytales, knights and maidens.
A Brief History
In the 11th century, a sultan built the first palace in what we know today as The Alhambra. However, during the 13th and 14th centuries, the emirs transformed this palace into a fortress. Subsequently the Christian monarchs took over and replaced the then mosque with a church. It is quite evident that the Alhambra has quite a bit of history behind its beautiful facade.
There was also a time when it was left to be over ridden by bandits and hobos in the 18th century and during Napoleon’s reign it was almost destroyed. Finally in the year 1870, the Alhambra was pronounced a national monument. The palace was restored after it started to gain attention as a result of being mentioned by authors in their books.
The Alhambra has in excess of 1.5 million people visiting on a yearly basis - all anxious to see the magnificent architecture of the palace merged with its artistic landscapes; a combination of gardens, fountains, pools and streaming water. One of the loveliest sights would be seeing the Alhambra at night or seeing the Alhambra from another view point such as Sacromonte.
When touring the Alhambra, some of the highlights are as follows:
The Comares Palace
This area contained the Throne Room of the palace.
The Mexuar Palace
The Catholic Monarchs made many changes to this area when it was taken over in the year 1492.
The Bath Houses
Many discussions of official business took place at the bath houses.
The Generalife
The details of the gardens in this area are incredible.
Many of the surrounding areas of The Alhambra can be freely visited, however some of the more well known and popular areas can only be entered within a specific time and by purchasing a ticket. Over 5000 visitors purchase tickets on a daily basis, so it is always recommended that you book your tickets in advance or arrive at the complex very early in the morning to avoid the long lines and not be disappointed should the tickets be sold out.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Alhambra _22210.aspx
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Author Resource :
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Keywords :
romantic places, spain travel, Catholic Monarchs,
Category :
Travel and Leisure
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Destinations
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