Skip to Content

The Secrets of the Alhambra Palace: Water

The Secrets of the Alhambra Palace: Water

Can you imagine the Alhambra palace without water?

It´s almost impossible to imagine this space without the fountains, pools and water features. Many of the decorative elements of this magnificent monument are created or enhanced with water.

The use of water in the Alhambra palace changed the Sabika hill from a red dusty mound into a lush oasis. Construction in this area of  the city is thought to have begun as far back as the 9th century.

The Alhambra Palace, Granada

GDPR Patio Leones Nasrid Palace Alhambra Granada

Courtyard of the Lions

Around the 1360´s is when the palace as we know today really begins to develop. The Patio de los Leones or Courtyard of the Lions was built then. Now the most emblematic part of the Alhambra. This fountain is said to represent the heavenly garden of Islam. A large bowl sits on twelve lions; each one has its own individual markings and face. Underneath the base of Lion´s fountain run four water channels.

These streams symbolize the four rivers of paradise. Each of the twelve lions spout water into channels below which run across the marble courtyard, creating movement and sounds across the centre of the palace.

Lions Courtyard The Alhambra Palace Granada Spain blog

Fountains in the Alhambra

In 2010 a major restoration project helped to conserve the stone lions. Some of the stone and metal parts had rust stains after standing for so many years. This restoration work lasted more than a year. However it didn’t only allow for cleaning up the lions. This restoration revealed far more information about the water supply and engineering of the fountain than was first expected. This central feature had its own water channel. The water supply wasn´t from the same channels which gave water to the Alhambra gardens and fountains.

This had its own exclusive channel which runs in parallel to the main channel from the acequia real. This is a bold and extravagant detail which helps us to understand the importance of the architecture in the Alhambra and the splendor the creators wanted to display. When you book Private Alhambra Tours with a good guide they point these out to you as part of your visit.

The patio of the lions is the centre of the Nazrid palace. The most beautiful part of the Alhambra palace. All rooms and corridors radiate from this central courtyard and fountain. So it was imperative that a constant supply of water arrived to this emblematic part of the palace.

Patio de Lindaraja, Alhambra Palace

Acequia Real

The Acequia Real is the main water channel which carries the water supply to the Alhambra palace. This 6 km stretch of water above the Darro River. At the time of Nasrid dynasty this water source was clean and suitable for drinking. This network of channels would have ran along to directly into the Generalife Gardens and then through the heart of the Alhambra palaces. The Acequia Real supplied the whole Alhambra citadel with water in a clever network of channels. Water reached all the gardens, plants and even the fountains with enough pressure and still works all these years on.

Acequia Real Water in the Alhambra Palace Spain blog

Visiting the Alhambra

When you visit the monument you can see the Acequia Real if you lookout for it. Close to the the entrance to Alhambra Palace you can see one of the arched aqueducts. The design of this system ensured a constant flow of water, refreshing this palatial city. The builders made detailed calculations to use the natural flow of the Darro River. They created a pressure which would make the water flow naturally along its course. As well as the channels, several pools storing water, waterwheels and other devices made this system work.

In 711 Arab settlers had already discovered roman water channels. The engineers for the Alhambra made use of this existing framework to create their own system. Expanding and improving what was already there. They built main channels and sub channels to create a large network. This system also encouraged agriculture in the area. It was working up until 1492 when the Catholic Kings took over Granada. They didn´t understand this system and it did not maintain it well. The Arabs carefully cleaned this water network each year to secure their clean drinking water.

Aljibe Plaza de San Nicolas

Aljibes

Next to the Puerta del Vino and the Torre de la Vela you come to a large open space known as the Plaza de los Aljibes. This means the square of the water tanks. Aljibes are large deposits for water storage. They are typical in Granada. Many of them are still in the Alhambra and Albaicin neighbourhoods. In 1494 the Count of Tendilla built a 34 metre long water tank under this square.

Years ago there used to be a kiosk on the square which handed out glasses of drinking water from the underground cistern to thirsty visitors. Now there is a kiosk here but unfortunately just selling beer and ice cream.

escapada a granada

Alhambra palace Reflections

Patio de los Arrayanes or the court of the myrtles is a perfect example of the use of water in the Alhambra palace. This elongated pool seems to increase the size of the palace, by its captivating mirror effect. The grandeur of the palace is amplified by reflections of the intricate arches in the water.

The babbling sounds of the small fountain at the end of the pool soothes the onlooker. The myrtle hedge around this pool releases a delicate scent when in flower. The architects considered the all five senses when designing these spaces.

Water in the Alhambra Palace Spain blog Partal

El Partal

The Palacio del Partal is good example of this mirror effect on the water. The arches of the Partal façade reflect in the rectangular pool. This palace dates from 1302 to 1309, it is the only one within the Alhambra which has remained almost unchanged since the Nazrid period.

Alhambra Palace

Comares – Royal Baths

El Baño de Comares was called the Royal baths. This bathhouse used by the Catholic kings as their private bathing area in the 15th century. This is an excellent example of an original Hammam still here in the present day. This space is usually closed to visitors to protect its delicate interior. It is the only medieval Islamic bath fully intact in the western world. To see it on your visit to the Alhambra you can see parts of the building from a gallery corridor just outside.

This corner of the Alhambra palace has fascinated many visitors over the years. It even inspired the painter Henri Matisse after his visit in the month of December in 1910. Several of his works were directly inspired by this place.

The ceiling has star shaped openings in the ceiling. These holes are for regulating the temperature and steam inside the baths. Distributed in three rooms. The cold room, the warm room and the hot room. The importance of cleansing as a religious rite was not only an important part of daily life but a social activity too. This practise was later prohibited by the Catholic kings soon after their conquest. In 14th Century Granada there would have been many Arab bathhouses but sadly only a few examples remain. El bañuelo in Carrera del Darro is another example which you can still visit today.

Alhambra Palace

Generalife Palace

Now we come to the lush gardens of the Summer Palace, the Generalife. In Summertime the court would move to this cooler area of the Alhambra palace. Higher up that the Alhambra palace and set amongst the trees of the Alhambra woods.
This summer palace has lots of open spaces, water features, lush gardens, ponds and long paths. Probably the most well known sight in the Generalife is the Patio de la Acequia. Certainly the most photographed part of the Generalife gardens.

Here you can see water shooting up forming silver arches above the plants and the rectangular pool. Similarly the large courtyard also offers views over the city of Granada on the left of this patio.

I recently bought a book all about the Plants of the Alhambra which explains the different varieties of shrubs and flowers within the grounds of the Alhambra. Water in the Alhambra Palace Spain blog Generalife

However my own personal highlight in the Generalife gardens is not this area but the Escalera de agua. Known as the water stairs this feature dates from the 16th century. It is a long staircase set amongst bushes and trees. It has water splashing down inside the hollow hand rail and is a unique and eyecatching sight.

The architects of the Alhambra certainly knew how to use the abundance of water to reduce high summer temperatures. Also knowing how to amplify the prestige and power of the monarchs of the time.

What was your highlight of the Alhambra palace?

The Secrets of the Alhambra palace

Travel Resources to Plan Your Visit

Here are a few resources to help you plan your visit to Granada:

Please Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. All thoughts, feelings and opinions shared on this blog and in this post are my own.

  1. Ayman says:

    Its only one easy question. !.. why do most present architects not think about the 5 senses we mostly have and thinking only about visual effects !?

  2. Vivian says:

    Hi Molly,
    I came across your blog from other travellers’ comments as I search for helpful info for my family’s upcoming trip to Spain. I bookmarked your blog because there’s just so much to read! So far, it has been such a delight to read through your narratives.

    For now, I wonder if you can help me with this:
    1. Do I need to book a guided, skip-the-line tour of Alhambra? A lot of people recommend this to save time but locals advise against it. My concern is that we might be limited by the 3-hour guided tour which might not leave us more time to o explore and take photos. But if this will save us time from queuing and waiting, I guess it’s worth it.
    2. If so, which provider do you recommend? I’m confused with so many and I’m not sure how credible they are. Also, they offer different packages. With only one chance to visit Alhambra, I intend to see what needs to be visited. 3. Correct me if I’m wrong, I do need to find a tour that includes Alhambra – Alcazaba, Nasrid and Generalife, right?

    Would appreciate your advise. Thanks!
    Vivian

    • Molly says:

      Hi

      thanks for reading.
      It really depends how far ahead of your visit you are.

      If you have more than 30 days ahead of the day you want to visit then try the official website for the best option.

      If you are less than 25 days ahead of your visit you will probably have to book the guided tour.

      Thbis blog post explains it all in more detail
      https://www.piccavey.com/alhambra-tickets-palace-spain/

      Hope it helps
      Molly

  3. Al Mazar says:

    Visited Al Hambra last week.. I´m in awe of the majestic Islamic designers and builders’ legacy…

    • Molly says:

      Its so wonderful that all this work and craftmanship is still here today so that we can all see it, all those centuries later
      Thrilled that you enjoyed your visit.

  4. Sue Yuric says:

    Read a work of fiction claiming the lion fountain was a form of clock. Any truth to that?

    • Molly says:

      The fountain and its design is actually shrouded in mystery.
      There are several intepretations about the meaning of the lions.

      Some say that it is liked to Astrology and each lion is a zodiac sign.
      Another theory is that it is liked to the court of King Solomon. (there is an inscription on the fountain referring to him)
      The clock theory is also possible as there are 12 lions and this would work like a sundial, indicating the 12 hours of the sacred calendar.
      In the bible the bronze sea was held by 12 bulls which King Solomon built at the Temple of Jersusalem

      Another idea is that the the fountain represents paradise, the source of life and the four rivers in the Koran.

      Whichever theory is correct, the fountain is clearly a show of power in the centre of the palace where the current monarch/sultan holds his court.

      • Tim says:

        I enjoyed your presentation, Molly. I am currently researching Mughal gardens (or ‘bagh’) in Agra, India. There are some fascinating books and articles on interpretations of the ‘char bagh’ (4 section gardens) according to Koranic texts. Here is one on the Mahtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden) that is designed into the Taj Mahal, but on the other side of the Yamuna River that you might find interesting. The article helped me to understand the symbolism of Islamic gardens better … https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1877042815000610 … Sorry, there is a lot more but everything else requires access to academic journals. Tim

  5. Emily says:

    Awesome scope of the Alhambra Palace and the significance of water to the experience. It is intriguing to see the lions as animals and appearances are abnormal in Islamic workmanship and design, as understanding “fainthearted pictures taboo” is generally taken too far. I thin they significantly improve the geometric structures and symbols we would regularly hope to see and are a decent sign of the meeting of civic establishments

  6. Debra Emerson says:

    I just visited the Alhambra and General Life last week. Our tour guide allowed us inside the baths and It was amazing that the early engineers were able to have water flow to all parts of the Alhambra. Quite a feat. Good story about an amazing place.

    • Molly says:

      The Alhambra palace is a truly amazing monument. Glad you enjoyed your visit Debra

  7. Laura says:

    Is it just me or is Nasrid the more common spelling? And aren’t most place names capitalized but season names in lowercase? I also think you should stay consistent with saying ‘River Darro’ or ‘Darro River’. Thank you for this article, though.

    • Laura says:

      Also, are they aljibes, aljbes, or alijbes?

      • Laura says:

        My sources say they are called aljibes, meaning cistern or well.

        • Molly says:

          Hi, the spanish word for these cisterns is ALJIBE.
          I describe this as a tank to ensure everyone understands. It is a large deposit for water.
          I have amended the River Darro on the article

          Thanks for reading

  8. Paul Graham says:

    Great coverage of the Alhambra Palace and the importance of water to the experience. It is interesting to see the lions as creatures and faces are unusual in Islamic art and architecture, as interpretation “craven images forbidden” is usually taken too far. I thin they greatly enhance the geometric forms and icons we would normally expect to see and are a good indication of the meeting of civilizations

    • Molly says:

      Yes, it seems that the more I read, the more there is to discover. The lions represent the twelve suns.
      When the Lions were being restored you could see them individually up close, and they are all quite different.
      When they are all together under the fountain it seems that they are all the same.

      Thanks Paul!

Comments are closed.