Places and Spots in the Alhambra: Rooms of Carlos V (Alhambra)

Rooms of Carlos V (Alhambra)

Short description of the monument

Carlos V, thinking of residing in Granada during the constructions of his Palace, ordered to build and adapt a series of rooms according to the Castilian way of living. Although the Emperor and his cortege were seduced by the beauty of the “nazarie” palace, their architecture was far from being comfortable for them. These rooms, built between 1527 and 1537 around the “Daraxa” garden, were never occupied by the Emperor.

History of the monument

“Julio de Aquiles” and “Alexander Mayner” decorated with paintings these rooms, although they were rubbed off in 1729 for the arrival of “Felipe V”. But in the 19th and 20th centuries, some of these paintings have been recuperated (in 1990, by “Victor Medina Flórez” and “Ana García Buena”), like those of the next rooms: “sala de las Frutas”, “sala de la Emperatriz” and the “salas del Emperador”.

These rooms are also known as the “Rooms of Washington Irving”, since the American writer occupied them in 1829, during his visit to Granada. Possibly here is where he wrote his famous “Tales of the Alhambra”. In the first room there is a chimney with the imperial emblems and a panelwork ceiling, even more spectacular in the other room. The ceilings and the chimneys must have been made by “Pedro Machuca”. The other two rooms, named “sala de las Frutas” (the fruits room) due to their decoration, are smaller in size but also decorated with the motto: «Plus Ultra».

You can enter the “Galería del Peinador” from these rooms, constructed in the 16th century over the rampart, being restored in 1842 according to the old construction.

Bibliography

• José Manuel Rodríguez Domingo, Ana María Gómez Román

Source Book: “Cuadernos de La Alhambra”, ISSN 0590-1987, Nº 27, 1991 , pages. 191-224

• “Granada en tus manos. Alhambra y Generalife”. Author: Carlos Vílchez Vílchez. Ideal – 2006.

Web sites:

• www.alhambradegranada.org/historia/alhambraHCarlosV.asp - 18k -

The Royal Palace

Introduction

Mexuar

Oratory

The Golden Room Courtyard

Golden Room

The Comares Palace

The Arrayanes Courtyard

The Barca Hall

The Comares Tower

The Embajadores Hall

The Lion’s Palace