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Generalife

Coordinates: 37°10′37″N 3°35′07″W / 37.17694°N 3.58528°W / 37.17694; -3.58528
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Generalife
Native name
Arabic: جَنَّة الْعَرِيف
The Generalife viewed from the Alhambra
LocationGranada, Andalusia, Spain
Built14th century
Governing bodyMinistry of Culture
Official nameAlhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada
TypeCultural
Criteriai, iii, iv
Designated1984 (8th session)
1994 (18th session – Extension)
Reference no.314
RegionEurope

The Palacio de Generalife (Spanish pronunciation: [xe.ne.ɾa.ˈli.fe]; Arabic: جَنَّة الْعَرِيف Jannat al-‘Arīf, literally, "Architect's Garden") was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Emirs (Kings) of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

History

The palace and gardens were built during the reign of Muhammad III (1302–1309) and redecorated shortly after by Abu I-Walid Isma'il (1313–1324).

The Court of la Acequia.
View of the Court del ciprés de la sultana.

Design

The complex consists of the Patio de la Acequia (Court of the Water Channel or Water-Garden Courtyard), which has a long pool framed by flowerbeds, fountains, colonnades and pavilions, and the Jardín de la Sultana (Sultana's Garden or Courtyard of the Cypress). The former is thought to best preserve the style of the medieval Persian garden in Al-Andalus.

Originally the palace was linked to the Alhambra by a covered walkway across the ravine that now divides them. The Generalife is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens.[1]

20th century

The present-day gardens were started in 1931 and completed by Francisco Prieto Moreno in 1951. The walkways are paved in traditional Granadian style with a mosaic of pebbles: white ones from the River Darro and black ones from the River Genil.[2]

The Generalife is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Granada, along with the Alhambra palace and gardens, and the Albayzín district.

See also

References

  1. ^ Burton, Rosemary and Cavendish, Richard (2003). Wonders of the World: 100 Great Man-Made Treasures of Civilization. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., ISBN 1-58663-751-7, p.27.
  2. ^ Núñez, J. Agustín (Ed.). (2002). Muslim and Christian Granada. Edilux. ISBN 84-95856-07-7.
  • A window of the Generalife
    A window of the Generalife
  • Splash from fountains evaporating off stone cools the air
    Splash from fountains evaporating off stone cools the air

There is an imitation of part of the Generalife at Roundhay Park in Leeds, UK.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Generalife.

37°10′37″N 3°35′07″W / 37.17694°N 3.58528°W / 37.17694; -3.58528

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