Parador de Granada

The Parador de Granada occupies what was the 14th-century Nasrid Palace of the Infants, rebuilt by Yusuf I, which the Catholic Monarchs converted into the first Christian monastery in the newly conquered Alhambra and selected to house their tomb. When the Catholic Monarchs were besieging Granada, Queen Isabella I of Castile made a vow that, after victory, she would build a sanctuary in the Alhambra to her beloved Saint Francis. As a result, a Franciscan monastery was built in the late 15th century, after the expulsion of the Moors from the city in 1492. Isabella the Catholic was buried here in 1504, serving as her resting place until the Royal Chapel was completed. Given the artistic importance of the Alhambra, the monastery became an artists' residence until, in 1945, it was transformed into a Parador.

The building began as an Arab palace, rebuilt in the 14th century by Yusuf I. The original courtyard, converted into a cloister, is still preserved, as are the Arab hall and the qubba, which offers a magnificent view over the Generalife. The remains of the Nasrid palace have been preserved in the Nasrid Hall. There are Hammam ruins, the ancient Arab baths, in one of the gardens, and Kufic inscriptions can be seen along some walls. The upper rooms on the top floors have more character than standard options, and some suites add original beamed ceilings, old window walls and Mudéjar shutters.

The Parador is situated within the Alhambra complex, a World Heritage Site and one of the most visited monuments in the world. The Parador gardens are among the most romantic places in the city. Their colors, the scent of flowers and the sound of water create a truly intoxicating atmosphere. All gardens are watered by snowmelt brought from the mountains through a complex and ingenious irrigation system. Small water channels—acequias—run refreshingly throughout the gardens, giving the grounds a dreamlike quality of natural tranquility.