Since last spring, lovers of the Alhambra in Granada have not stopped having good news in relation to this very important Spanish monument. It was in May when the Board of Trustees of the Alhambra and Generalife of Granada opened the Torre de la Cautiva to the public in an exceptional way and the initiative was so well received that in July it opened the Torre de los Picos.
On this occasion, the Alhambra in Granada wants to suggest that visitors come, between August 1 and September 9, to the Nasrid fortress to see the Generalife gardens., one of the most important enclaves of the monumental complex that is usually closed for conservation reasons.
Next, we take a walk through this little-known corner of the Alhambra to discover its secrets. A fabulous plan for this summer!
The gardens of the Generalife
Image | Alhambra Board of Trustees
The gardens of the Alhambra in Granada and the orchards of the Generalife, with their eight hundred years of history, open the new cycle of guided tours that will allow tourists to get to know this beautiful palace and some of the places that are usually closed from another point of view to the public for preservation reasons.
These orchards are located on the slopes of Cerro Sol in the Generalife (a country house ordered to build by the sután Mohamed II at the end of the XNUMXth century) and are made up of four spaces (Haberdashery, Fuente Peña, Grande and Colorada) that include area of seven hectares.
The Generalife was surrounded by fruit trees and orchards whose fruits were used for the consumption of the court. In addition, the pastures for the cattle were cared for there.
In order to enhance the green heritage, the Alhambra organizes a series of visits to publicize the work carried out in its gardens. And it is that from the fourteenth century to the present, the agricultural exploitation has been maintained using the same techniques that were used at that time. Curious, right?
Today, the Generalife gardens are ecological and supportive since their harvest is destined for different centers of a social and humanitarian nature. Some of the foods grown in the Alhambra are artichokes, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, chard, spinach, leeks, carrots, squash, radishes, cucumbers, lettuce and aubergines.
Guided visits to the gardens of the Generalife
Image | Now Granada
Guided visits to the orchards will take place from August 1 to September 9. They are free and there are two types of visits, which require prior registration and only allow 15 people per shift. The kids have to be accompanied by an adult and comfortable shoes are recommended for visits.
The gardens of the Generalife. Green heritage of humanity
They will take place on August 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 9am. at 12h. They will take place in the Grande, Fuente-peña, Haberdashery and Colorada gardens as well as in the Albercones area, which are generally closed to the public.
Get to know the gardens of the Generalife as a family
This activity also introduces us to the Generalife orchards through a short guided tour that ends with a workshop called "Hortelanos por un día", where participants will learn in detail the traditional work in the orchards and their crops. It will take place on August 23 and 30 and September 9 from 10am. at 12h.
This activity begins with a short guided tour and ends with the "Hortelanos por un día" workshop, where participants can get in touch with the traditional management of orchards and their derived products. The dates are: August 23 and 30 and September 9, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Alhambra of Granada
The Alhambra of Granada
If Granada is known worldwide for something, it is for its Alhambra. It was built between the 1870th and XNUMXth centuries in times of the Nasrid kingdom, as a military fortress and palatine city, although it was also a Christian Royal House until it was declared a monument in XNUMX. In this way, The Alhambra became a tourist attraction of such relevance that it was even proposed for the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The Alcazaba, the Royal House, the Palace of Carlos V and the Patio de los Leones are some of the most popular areas of the Alhambra. So are the Generalife gardens that are located on the Cerro del Sol hill. The most beautiful thing about these gardens is the interplay between light, water and lush vegetation.
Where does the Alhambra get its name from?
In Spanish 'alhambra' means 'red fortress' due to the reddish hue that the building acquired when the sun shone at sunset. The Alhambra in Granada is located on the Sabika hill, between the Darro and Genil river basins. This type of elevated city locations respond to a defensive and geopolitical decision very in line with the medieval mentality.
Without a doubt, The Alhambra occupies a privileged place, where its architectural values combine and fit perfectly with the surrounding landscape. To better appreciate it, it is advisable to go to the Albaicín neighborhood (Mirador de San Nicolás) or the Sacromonte.