The Nasrid and Charles V Palaces: An Alhambra Audio Guide

Andalusia’s enchanting palace complex and citadel is Granada's most popular attraction, drawing around three million visitors a year. But the Alhambra was once an ancient city in its own right, completely independent from Granada, with its own laws, royal guard, and government. On this walking tour with Blanca Espigares Rooney, a Context Travel expert and architecture scholar whose family is from Alhambra, you'll see part of the former city and its famous Nasrid palaces, and trace their evolution through time. With Blanca's help, you'll learn to decode Arabic symbols and spot the Nasrid legacy left behind in these astonishing palaces. You'll also find out how Queen Isabella's decree in 1492 ended up preserving these ancient structures by allowing buildings to be adapted, but not destroyed.

Starting in front of the Puerta de la Justicia (Gate of Justice), you'll delve into some of the differences between Eastern and Western medieval architecture, including hidden entrances and multifunctional rooms. As you make your way to the Palace of Charles V, now the Museum of the Alhambra, you‘ll hear how the city went from being a defensive bastion in the 11th century to an embodiment of Renaissance opulence but through the splendor of the Nasrid dynasty. You'll be guided through the museum before entering the Nasrid Palaces, where the story of this architectural wonder unfolds. You'll see how the palaces were adapted through the centuries and where Washington Irving penned his famous Tales of the Alhambra. Along the way, Blanca will show you breathtaking views from Albaicin, this ancient hilltop district. She'll shed light on the symbols in every palace nook, from the regal lion statues in the Patio de los Leones to the celestial Arab stars depicted on the palaces' vaults and ceilings. You'll gain an understanding of the Alhambra‘s evolution across four distinctive periods, each of which made architectural contributions that echoed the spirit of the era.

On this Alhambra self-paced audio tour, you'll:

• Learn to identify and read one of the most repeated Arabic texts, mottos and phrases throughout the palaces

• Delve into the nuances between Eastern and Western medieval architecture, which include unique entrances and multifunctional rooms

• Observe and learn about taracea, a beautiful woodwork technique that involves inlaying small pieces of different wood
• Learn to distinguish four different periods in the Alhambra's history
• Understand how bright colors, large quantities of water, and hydraulic control were signs of wealth and power

• Hear about the legacy of Charles V, who orchestrated the construction of the largest palace while safeguarding ancient Nasrid marvels 

• Stand in awe before the grandeur of the world‘s largest muqarnas, a vaulted or stucco dome, in the Palace of the Lions

By the end of this 90-minute tour, you'll feel as if you've peered into the heart of the Alhambra to gain a sense of the intricate stories and architectural splendor that have shaped this enigmatic monument through the ages.

The Alhambra is open daily from 8:30 AM till 8 PM. While there are many different entrances to the Alhambra, the tour begins at the Gate of Justice, or la Puerta de la Justicia in Spanish. 

Please note: An admission ticket is required to access La Alhambra, which you can purchase here. If you buy tickets with access at a certain time, please start this tour at least 45 minutes before your official visit begins.  

This tour is wheelchair accessible and can be experienced by travelers of all capabilities. Travelers will be required to climb a set of stairs to access the inside the Puerta de la Justicia, the inside the Palace of Charles the 5th, and the downstairs balcony with the view of the Albacin. The total length of the tour is one mile.