Places and Spots in the Alhambra: The “Cautiva” Tower (Alhambra)

The “Cautiva” Tower (Alhambra)

Short description of the monument

Continuing the path along the wall, we reach the “Cautiva” Tower. In the 16th century it was known as the “Ladrona” (thief) or the “Sultana” (sultaness) Tower. The name was changed for the “Cautiva” (captive) because they thought that at this tower resided Dña. Isabel de Solís, who was converted to Islam with the name of “Zoraya”, the “favourite” of the sultan Muley Hacén.

Through a passage we enter the ground floor of the tower that leads to a courtyard with galleries opened on three of its sides by stilted scalloped arches, with imposts decorated with “muqarbas” (decorative motif based on vertically juxtaposed bows or prisms). This courtyard connects with a square room through a double arch embellished with “muqarbas”. This room has a panelled ceiling from the 19th century and niches with balconies that give out onto the exterior. The inscriptions on the walls reveal its defensive importance inside the compound, and its character as a tower-palace of great beauty.

History of the monument

Chronology: it was built at the end of the 13th century, although in the first half of the 14th century, in times of Yusuf I, it was restored and conditioned as a habitation.

Outstanding: It is a tower-palace or “Qalahurra”, where the defensive character of its exterior combines with the homely character of its interior.

This tower has been called different ways along the years, like for instance: the “Ladrona”, the “Damas” and the “Sultana” tower. From the mid 19th century it is known as the “Cautiva” tower, due to the romantic legend that says that Dña. Isabel de Solís stayed captive in this tower; later she became the sultaness “Zoraya”.

The exterior of the “Cautiva” tower, is similar to the other towers. Although, the interior is one of the most splendid and outstanding rooms of the Alhambra for its decoration. It is a tower-palace or “Qalahurra” with the same structure and distribution as the houses and palaces of the Monumental compound.

This space, along with the “Comares” hall, has the most magnificent decoration of the Alhambra. At this room, a carved poem, at the left angle, gives us the key to understand this work of art:

«this work of art has come to embellish the Alhambra;
It is house for the peaceful and the soldiers;
Qalahurra that houses a palace
¡Say it is a fortress and, at the same time, mansion for the bliss!
It is a palace where splendour is shared
among its ceiling, its flooring and its four walls;
On the stucco works and on the tiles there are wonders,
But the carved woods of its ceilings are even more extraordinary... »
(translation. Mª Jesús Rubiera)

Bibliography

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

Web sites:

• http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/recursos_informaticos/andared01/
alhambra/torres/torcautiva.htm

• http://www.alhambradegranada.org/historia/alhambraTCautiva.asp

• http://www.radiogranada.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=30172

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