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Former Convent of San Francisco
Let's explore a few of the interesting, but much less
spectacular, buildings within Alhambra. This tower is
that of the old convent of San Francisco. It's now
a luxury hotel, part of the Spanish Parador system.
Guidebooks love this place and suggest booking a
year in advance. We got in the afternoon we visited
the Alhambra due to a cancellation.
This is a lovely place built on the ruins of another
Nasrid palace. At the left end of this picture was the
center of the Moorish home converted by the Franciscans
into a chapel. In this chapel, Ferdinand and Isabel, the
Catholic Kings who drove the Moors out of Spain and
launched Columbus making them perhaps the greatest of
Spanish rulers -- were laid to rest according to Isabel's
will. (At least for a few years until their grandson
created a lavish tomb down the hill in town and moved
their bodies in 1521.)
Here's the cloister. Where Moors strode and Franciscans
prayed, we had our breakfast.
The grounds of the Parador recreate the spirit of the
Moorish gardens that once surrounded this palace. The
Royal Waterway which brought water from down the hill
flowed through here into ponds, fountains, and baths.
The ruins of the palace of the Abencerrages
Nearby and not very well preserved are the remains of
another palace, built along the southern fortress wall
and using one of the wall's towers as its main hall. This
was late 13th or early 14th century and belonged to the
Abencerrage tribe.
Church of Santa Maria de la Encarnacion
As was typical, the Christians built a church on the spot
where the mosque once stood in the complex. This one,
dedicated to Our Lady of the Incarnation, was fairly
undistinguished.
Spots of gold
The rain finally cleared at the end of the first of our
two days in Alhambra and Dick found...
...his pot of gold. Were you wondering how her hair
got blond?
Thanks for visiting the Alhambra with us. See all
of our travel pictures
by clicking here.
