Court of the lions of the Alhambra

Court of the lions in the Alhambra

The Court of the lions is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed points of the Alhambra for the beauty of its symbolism of paradise in a construction that resembles a real petrified oasis. That is why the Courtyard of the Lions Alhambra is the highlight of any visit to this monumental complex in Granada.

What do you say we delve into its history?

After a Nasrid sultanate of great works, Muhammad V in his second mandate (1362 – 1391) managed to imagine and create this beautiful palace. palace which represented the peak of Nasrid art as this building is a faithful reflection of all the styles of this period; and after centuries of extensive building and creative experience in the Alhambra, the technical capabilities of its creators and their sensitivity were at their best at the time of its creation.

The courtyard enclosure is a tremendously beautiful space, which is a perfect example of the unparalleled ability of the Nasrid dynasty to integrate architecture and water, as the courtyard is surrounded by four rooms from which flows a small spring that unifies in the center and represents the four rivers of Paradise described in the Koran.

Structure of the palace of the Court of the Lions

Following the traditional model of the Hispano-Muslim housing, the structure of the

the Court of the Lions starts from a central open-air courtyard, which serves as the axis from which the rooms are distributed, both on the first floor and on the first floor, becoming the nucleus for the development of family life.

Its transept layout, together with its perfectly proportioned arches around the perimeter, have positioned it as one of the most universally recognized architectural jewels.

As a symbol of the decorative grandiosity of the hunting and the importance of the complex hydraulic system of the complex, the ‘jewel in the crown’ has been preserved: its famous fountain, which not only serves symbolism, but also responds to a utilitarian function, comprising a complex system that allowed the water to be kept in the fountain in a balanced way, thanks to the continuous supply and evacuation that ensured that the spring never overflowed.

The courtyard is surrounded by 124 columns of Macael marble from Almeria, whose symbolism corresponds to a forest of palm trees, which together with its fountain almost perfectly recreates the oasis we spoke of at the beginning.

As a remarkable curiosity for the time, the columns have a lead plate between the capital and the shaft and another between the shaft and the base, which serves as a perfect expansion joint in case of earthquake.