Dar-al-Horra Palace (Granada)
Located in the Albaicín Quarter, on top of the Alcazaba, is the magnificent Nasrid Palace of Dar-al-Horra, which dates back to the 14th century. It was the residence of Muhammad I, the founder of the Nasrid dynasty.
The palace, built on the ruins of another palace belonging to the Zirid king Badis ben Habús, passed into the hands of the Catholic Monarchs after the reconquest, thus becoming the residence of Hernando de Zafra.
The architecture of Dar-al-Horra is impressive. It has a tower and two floors and is organized around a patio with a pair of galleries on its lower sides. Both galleries have three angled and banked semicircular arches, with the central one being the largest.
Following the classic architectural style of Muslim Spain, the palace patio features a square-shaped pool in the centre, with paintings on the ceilings of its lower room. Its upper room has a splendid viewpoint that is the most prominent element from the exterior, as well as a roof built with a truss made of torque and knuckle.
The Dar-al-Horra Palace underwent a series of renovations over the centuries. The most important was the replacement of one of the bays with a smaller, Mudejar-style nave, made to serve as a temporary church.
It is one of the most interesting vestiges of the impressive Nasrid period, and its original decorations have remained in an excellent state of conservation. Thus, the palace has become an important tourist attraction.
The palace, built on the ruins of another palace belonging to the Zirid king Badis ben Habús, passed into the hands of the Catholic Monarchs after the reconquest, thus becoming the residence of Hernando de Zafra.
The architecture of Dar-al-Horra is impressive. It has a tower and two floors and is organized around a patio with a pair of galleries on its lower sides. Both galleries have three angled and banked semicircular arches, with the central one being the largest.
Following the classic architectural style of Muslim Spain, the palace patio features a square-shaped pool in the centre, with paintings on the ceilings of its lower room. Its upper room has a splendid viewpoint that is the most prominent element from the exterior, as well as a roof built with a truss made of torque and knuckle.
The Dar-al-Horra Palace underwent a series of renovations over the centuries. The most important was the replacement of one of the bays with a smaller, Mudejar-style nave, made to serve as a temporary church.
It is one of the most interesting vestiges of the impressive Nasrid period, and its original decorations have remained in an excellent state of conservation. Thus, the palace has become an important tourist attraction.
Location
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