Of the outlying buildings in connexion with the Alhambra, the foremost in interest is the Palacio de Generalife or Gineralife (the Moorish Jennat al Arif, "Garden of Arif," or "Garden of the Architect"). This villa probably dates from the end of the 13th century, but has been several times restored. Its gardens, however, with their clipped hedges, grottos, fountains, and cypress avenues, are said to retain their original Moorish character. The Villa de los Martires (Martyrs' Villa), on the summit of Monte Mauror, commemorates by its name the Christian slaves who were employed to build the Alhambra, and confined here in subterranean cells. The Torres Bermejas (Vermilion Towers), also on Monte Mauror, are a well-preserved Moorish fortification, with underground cisterns, stables, and accommodation for a garrison of 200 men. Several Roman tombs were discovered in 1829 and 1857 at the base of Monte Mauror.
See Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra;
from drawings taken on the spot by J. Goury and Owen Jones;
with a complete translation of the Arabic inscriptions and a
historical notice of the Kings of Granada, by P. de Gayangos.
These two magnificent folios, though first published in London
between 1842 and 1845, give the best pictorial representation
of the Alhambra. See also Rafael Contreras, La Alhambra,
El Alcazar, y la gran Mezquita de Occidente Madrid, (1885);
The Alhambra, by Washington Irving, was written in 1832,
and rewritten in 1857, when it had already become widely
celebrated for its picturesque and humorous descriptions.
A well-illustrated edition was published in London in 1896.
This article is from the 1911 edition of an encyclopedia, which is out of copyright here in the U.S. It is in the public domain and you may copy, download, print and distribute this work as you see fit.
Every effort has been made to present this text accurately and
cleanly, but no guarantees are made against errors. Neither Melissa
Snell nor About may be held liable for any problems you experience with
the text version or with any electronic form of this document.
Like jigsaws? Try your hand at this puzzle of the Alhambra.
