The Alhambra is in a splendid location, situated on a commanding hill above Granada, with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada as a backdrop. Within its walls is the most magnificent example of a medieval Islamic palace-city in Western Europe. The array of rich ornamentation takes one’s breath away: the patios with flowing water, the stucco inscribed with verse, the decorated tiles and the amazing ceilings of three-dimensional decoration and subtlety.
In this superbly researched book Michael Barry, using detailed maps and photographs, presents a clear guide to the wonders of the Alhambra and the Generalife. Uniquely among guidebooks he gives full context and depth: the spread of Islam in Iberia; the evolution of Granada and the remarkable rise and fall of the Nasrid dynasty. With its collection of stunning original photographs, the book is an invaluable souvenir of a visit to Granada and the Alhambra.
This absorbing book is required reading for all who visit the Alhambra also for those who want to understand how this splendour came about.