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As it has been doing since last spring, the Board of Trustees of the Alhambra and Generalife of Granada opens to the public in an exceptional way another of the private spaces of the Alhambra. Those who have visited the Nasrid fortress months ago will have already been able to see the Torre de la Cautiva, the Torre de los Picos and the Huertas del Generelife. This time it is the turn of the Powder Tower, which will open during the month of September.
If you are planning a getaway to Granada and you plan to visit the fabulous Alhambra, we advise you to take a look at the following post where we will discover the secrets of the Torre de la Pólvora and the fortress.
What is the Powder Tower?
Located in the Alcazaba, to the south of the Torre de la Vela, is the Torre de la Pólvora protruding from the wall. This small medieval defensive tower had a very relevant role during this time at the level of control of the territory. Under Christianity it also served as an artillery platform and storage space for this material. From there it receives the name that it currently conserves, Torre de la Pólvora, as explained by the Board of the Alhambra and Generalife of Granada. However, there are documents from the XNUMXth century where it is named as the Torre de Cristóbal del Salto.
Characteristics of the Powder Tower
Unlike the other towers of the Alhambra in Granada, the Torre de la Pólvora is smaller in size. However, it had a very important function and that is to control the attackers who entered through the trough that was located at its feet. As you can see, the Powder Tower had a great strategic value as it was in the extreme north-west and slightly advanced in relation to the rest of the wall.
Next to the Torre de la Pólvora you can see part of the wall that connects the Alhambra in Granada with Torres Bermejas.
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Visiting hours of the Powder Tower
The Powder Tower will be open to visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 8:30 am and 20:XNUMX pm. of the month of September. The capacity is limited to 30 people simultaneously who have previously purchased the Alhambra General ticket or the Alhambra Jardines ticket.
The Torre de la Pólvora represents one of the most particular constructions of the well-known fortress and September is a perfect month to get to know it.
Buy tickets for the Alhambra
Tickets to visit the Alhambra in Granada can be purchased online, at the ticket offices of the monument itself, through a travel agency that is an authorized agent or by phone. You have to remember that given the large number of visits it has per year, tickets have to be purchased between one day and three months in advance of the chosen date, but they cannot be purchased on the same day.
Knowing the Alhambra in 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 exuberant vegetation.
What is truly striking about the Alhambra in Granada is that throughout its history it has undergone transformations that have left a mark on what it is today: one of the most beautiful monuments in Spain that chose to become a new wonder of the world a few years ago.
It is one of the most visited Spanish monuments and its attraction lies not only in the beautiful interior decoration but also that the Alhambra is a building that integrates perfectly with the surrounding landscape.
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.