"Moscow-Granada" a Granada Travel Page by Kuznetsov_Sergey

The Iberian settlement Eliberge has arisen on a place of modern Granada in the V-th century before Christmas. Moors took possession of the west gothic city in 711 and named it Granada. According to one of versions the name is connected with a lot of garnet trees in this district.
Granada remained the capital of the last Islamic state on Iberian peninsula in 1250-1260 after falling Cordoba and Seville. This state was in vassal dependence on Castile and paid a tribute to it. Granada became one of the largest and richest cities of Europe. Granada - the center of sciences and arts. Algambra is under construction here in the XIII-th century.

Granada was under moorish sovereignty some centuries. Moors have left here the biggest trace not only because they stayed here very long but also because a little what has changed with their leaving. Catholic kings did not manage to transform Granada into Christian city, its shower still is orientally mysterious, despite of an abundance of Christian churches and monasteries.
One of pearls of the city is Alhambra. It is not simply palace, it is the whole city surrounded by walls behind which there are fortresses, royal rooms, barracks and gardens. It was constructed from IX century till XIV and reflected as a simple fortress. It is obliged by the name to red clay which used at construction ("Alhambra" on-arabian means red).

When in 1238 Nasrid dynasty was established in Granada, Mohamed Ben Alhamar decided to get over in a fortress. Usuf I constructed a palace there. Mohammed V constructed the Lion's court yard and buildings around of it.
The falling of Granada occurred on January, 2nd 1492. The last Granadien emir Boabdil transfers keys from the city to Catholic kings Ferdinand and Isabella after multimonthly siege. Falling of Granada meant the end of Reconcista. The authority of Christian governors was established on all peninsula.
After Rekonkista Charles V has ordered to destroy a part of a palace and to build on its place another palace and church. Since this period Alhambra has fallen into decay, it was exposed to plunder, there were fires. Restoration of a palace have undertaken only in the end of XIX century.