Generalife

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada


State Party = ESP
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, iii, iv
ID = 314
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1984
Session = 8th
Extension = 1994
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/314The Palacio de Generalife (Arabic: "Jannat al-'Arif" - "Architect's Garden") was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid sultans of Granada.

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 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 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. [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.]

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. [Núñez, J. Agustín (Ed.). (2002). "Muslim and Christian Granada". Edilux. ISBN 84-95856-07-7.]

References

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

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=314 Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada]
* [http://www.alhambradegranada.org/historia/alhambraGeneralifeIntro_en.asp The Generalife]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/heavenandearth/features/gardens/gallery_gardens.shtml BBC Picture Gallery]