The History Of The Alhambra In 1 Minute

One of the most popular tourist sights in Spain, the Alhambra is an ancient palace and fortress on the outskirts of the southern town of Granada in Andalusia. Constructed by the Moors who invaded the country from the 8th century onwards, it is a fine example of the hybrid style known as mudéjar art and a powerful symbol of Spain’s multicultural past.
The first signs of construction date back to at least the Roman times and can be attributed to the site’s advantageous position with good visibility of the surrounding area. However it wasn’t until the 14th century that the foundations of the Alhambra as it is known today were laid. Since the 8th century, Spain had been invaded by the Moors who had successfully established emirates and caliphates in most of the major provinces. It was in the mid-13th century that the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar commissioned the palace’s construction, which was eventually turned into a royal palace by Yusuf I Sultan of Granada in the mid-14th century. The palace was designed in the typical fashion popular among Muslim rulers on the peninsula at the time, featuring the presence of horseshoe arches, arabesques and calligraphy.