Nasrid Palaces: Court of the Lions and Partal Palace
Why is it significant?
Step into the realm of architectural perfection within the Court of the Lions, commissioned by Sultan Muhammad the Fifth in the late fourteenth century as the private family residence of the Nasrid monarchs.
Key Facts
| Place | Nasrid Palaces: Court of the Lions and Partal Palace |
|---|---|
| Address | Calle Real de la Alhambra s/n, 18009 Granada, Spain |
| Geo Coordinates | 37.17740, -3.58760 |
| Part of Walk | The Alhambra and Generalife: Nasrid Palaces, Fortress and Royal Gardens |
| Generated | Generated |
Step into the realm of architectural perfection within the Court of the Lions, commissioned by Sultan Muhammad the Fifth in the late fourteenth century as the private family residence of the Nasrid monarchs. A luminous forest of one hundred and twenty-four slender white marble columns from Macael, standing singly or clustered in pairs, supports filigreed arches dripping with stucco stalactites that filter the golden Mediterranean light. At the center rests the world-famous Fountain of the Lions, a monumental dodecagonal marble basin supported upon the backs of twelve sculpted stone lions with alert expressions. The court embodies the pinnacle of fourteenth-century Nasrid artistic sophistication, harmonizing carved alabaster fountains, filigree stucco arches, and flowing water channels with cosmic geometry.
Around the courtyard open breathtaking chambers, including the Hall of the Abencerrages, crowned by an eight-pointed star vault of muqarnas stained according to legend by the blood of murdered knights. Opposite lies the Hall of the Two Sisters, featuring a cellular dome of five thousand plaster stalactites that resembles a celestial honeycomb. Four water channels radiate from the central fountain toward the cardinal points, evoking the four rivers of water, milk, wine, and honey promised in the Quranic paradise.
Exiting the palatial apartments toward the east leads into the Partal Gardens, dominated by the Tower of the Ladies, the oldest preserved palace structure within the Alhambra, built under Muhammad the Third around 1305. Its five-arched portico reflected upon a vast rectangular pool lined with flowering roses creates one of the most serene scenes in Granada.
Around the rim of the lion fountain basin runs a masterwork of Arabic poetry by Ibn Zamrak, celebrating the purity of flowing water cascading over gleaming marble.
Follow the cypress avenue across the bridge over the Cuesta de los Chinos ravine to explore the royal summer retreat of the Generalife.