The Alhambra is preserved today that the question that I tried to answer to my  friendly group from U.S.A, Australia and Japan.   They remained surprised of as this palatine city has survived in spite of the years and of the generations who have happened hereabouts.

The Alhambra and Generalife is perhaps the only city from the Islamic culture that is still preserved almost in its original conditions thanks to a series of historical events. This made it current a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 for its unique condition.

Maintenance and transformations in the Alhambra

An ensemble of beautiful palaces (Comares and Court of Lions) that also posses the special Royal Irrigation Ditch; Acequia Real in Spanish.

Evidently, the Catholic Monarchs decide in 1492 that the Alhambra has to become part of the royal patrimony; Christian Royal Household, and so they provide it of its own warden, detached from the Granada’s city and funds for maintenance the palatine city. It becomes the new captaincy general; “Capitanía del Reino”.

In general, the palatine city was transformed only in some areas. The Generalife’s Palace were subjected to many changes but maintained their agricultural purpose.

During the three centuries the Alhambra’s keepers; Tendilla’s Family destined part of the Moorish taxes to preserve the site as well the construction of the Charles V’s Palace.

From the XIX century the modern conservation approach in the Alhambra. Romantic travellers and writers as Washington Irving helped promote the place building a legend around it.

The Alhambra was declared National Monument in 1870. That is when it has been special interest in its preservation. Romantic travellers and writers as Washington Irving helped promote the place building a legend around it.

Palatine city conservation

Most of the modern conservation work that today we have in the Alhambra we owe to Leopoldo Torres Balbás. He implemented the scientific conservation guidelines that were part of the European frame, agreed upon as a result of a series of International Meeting in which he participated. The Alhambra is a place of reference and research on our country’s restoration culture.

Today, the Alhambra city stands out because it is completely different one. People from different countries with different languages, cultural traditions, religious beliefs, and all of them find in the visit to this medieval palatine city the experience of the cultural heritage which is after all and experience of life.

Come and discover this magic city in a private guided tour with me.