Alhambra

1. Alhambra, Generalife et Albaicin, Grenade
Unique artistic creations,the Alhambra and the Generalife of Granada bear exceptional testimonyto Muslim Spain ofthe
16th century. They form an exceptional example of royal Arab residences ofthe medieval period:neither destroyed nor
changed by the alterations of radical restorations,the Alhambra and the Generalife appear to have escaped the
vicissitudes oftime.Despite the developmentthatfollowed the Christian conquest,the Albayzín still bears witness to the
medieval Moorish settlement,as its urban fabric, architecture and main characteristics (form,materials,colours),were
not changed when it was adapted to the Christian wayof life, to survive as a remarkable example ofa Spanish -Moorish
town.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the hill where the Albayzín is now situated has been occupied con tinuously
from as early as the Roman period.In the mid-8th century the region's governor builta fortress where the Plaza de San
Nicolás is now located.After the disappearance ofthe Caliphate ofCordoba (1031),the ephemeral Zirid Emirate of
Granada replaced it until 1090: the emirs devoted themselves to the embellishmentoftheir capital,constructed on a site
of exceptional beauty. A new defensive enclosure was added and around this a settlementgrew up.The town prospered
under the Nasrid dynasty and this was reflected by considerable developmentofthe city, but Granada did not become of
the importantcentres ofMuslim Spain until much later - in 1238,when Muhammad ibn al Ahmar founded the present
Alhambra.
The palace was essentiallycompleted in the 14th century by Yusuf I and his son Mohammed V. It is organized around
two rectangular courts,the patio de Los Arrayanes and the Patio de Los Lames,and includes a large number ofrooms of
a highly refined taste,with marble columns,stalactite cupolas, ornamental works in stucco,gailycoloured azulejos ,
precious wood inlayed and sculpted,and paintings on leather compete with the richness and the delicacy of the natural
decor: the water, still and sparkling in immense basins,flows outinto the basins ofthe fountains (the circular fountain of
the Court of Lions),glides through narrow canals,and explodes into jets ofwater or falls in refreshing cascades.
When the Reconquista was completed in 1492,the emigration ofmostof the Muslim inhabitants and the baptism of
those who remained,together with settlementby a substantial Christian population,had an effect on the developmentof
the quarter. The new late Gothic or early Plateresque churches and monasteries harmonized with the existing
architecture. Both fortress and residence,the Alhambra (Arabic 'The Red') incorporates palaces,guard room,patios and
gardens as well as workshops,shops,baths and mosque (independentlyof the church of Santa María builtin the 16th
century on the site of the royal mosque).It is enclosed bya massive fortified wall with towers,extended to the south-
west.
In the 19th century the lower quarters of the town were transformed and losttheir artistic qualities.Much of the
significance ofthe Albayzín lies in the medieval town plan with its narrow streets and small squares and in the relatively
modesthouses in Moorish and Andalusian style thatline then. There are, however, some more imposing reminders ofits
pastprosperity.Among them are the Casa de la Reina (the remains ofan aristocratic residence),the Corral del Carbón
(an ancientcaravanserai),and the former hermitage,converted into the church of San Sebastián.After the
Reconquista, Los Reyes Catolicos honoured Granada in manyways and endowed itwith many religious monuments.
Diego de Siloé, who was trained in Toledo and was one of the initiators of the Plateresque style,became one ofthe most
importantarchitects working in Granada.Among his many masterpieces there is the Patio de la Chancillería.
At a short distance to the eastof the Alhambra,the enchantmentis extended to the gardens of the Generalife,rural
residence ofthe Emirs.The relationship between the architectural and the natural has been reversed here,where
gardens and water predominate over the pavilions,summerhouses and living quarters.The massive boxwood trees,
rose,carnation and gillyflower bushes,shrubs ranging from willow to cypress,comprise an absolute masterpiece ofthe
art of horticulture by restoring the Koranic image ofparadise to the believers.
Dominantla ville moderne construite dans la plaine,l'Alhambra etl'Albaicin,situés sur deuxcollines adjacentes,
constituentla partie médiévale de Grenade. À l'estde la forteresse etrésidence de l'Alhambra s'étendentles merveilleux
jardins du Generalife,ancienne demeure champêtre des émirs qui régnaientsur cette partie de l'Espagne auxXIIIe
et
XIVe
siècles.Le quartier résidentiel de l'Albaicin conserve un riche ensemble d'architecture vernaculaire maure dans
laquelle l'architecture andalouse traditionnelle se fond harmonieusement

2. Description historique
Des fouilles archéologiques ontprouvé que la colline sur laquelle estconstruit1 'Albaicíin a été occupée en permanence
depuis la période romaine.Au milieu du Sème siècle,le gouverneur de la région,Asap ben Abderrahman,a construit
une forteresse à l'emplacementde l'actuelle place Saint-Nicolas;cette forteresse étaitconnue sous le nom de Casbah
jusqu'à la construction de l'Alhambra au 13ème siècle où il pritle nom de Vieille Casbah.Une nouvelle enceinte
défensive fut alors construite par les Zirides au 11ème siècle,enceinte autour de laquelle se forma un village.La ville
prospéra sous la dynastie nasride,comme le prouve le développementconsidérable de l'Albaicín au milieu du 14ème
siècle ; il devint le quartier des artisans etdes commerçants arabes etjuifs.
A la fin de la reconquête.en 1492,la population de l'Albaicín monta jusqu'à 60.000 habitants.Le départde la majorité
des musulmans etla conversion de ceux qui étaientrestés,parallèlementà l'installation d'une communauté chrétienne
donnèrentlieu à une augmentation conséquente du quartier sans pour autantque l'ancienne ville mauresque en soit
défigurée.Les nouvelles églises etles nouveaux monastères de la fin du gothique ou du débutdu plateresque se sont
parfaitementharmonisés avec l'architecture existante.
Au 19ème siècle,l'étonnante expansion de l'agriculture de cette région a relancé le développementde Grenade.Les
quartiers de la basse ville furent transformés etperdirentde leurs qualités artistiques.Cependant,l'Albaicín évita les
méfaits de l'urbanisation en raison de sa situation à flanc de colline.Aujourd'hui,la ville estcoupée en deux parties
distinctes :d'un côté la ville moderne en bas et de l'autre, la ville médiévale avec l'Alhambra et l'Albaicín en hautdes
deux collines qui constituentun ensemble cohérent.