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

The “Comares” Tower (Alhambra)

Short description of the monument

The “Comares” Tower is the biggest of all the existing towers in the Alhambra, it is 45 meters high. It took its name from the coloured glass windows of the balconies, also called “comarías”, that illuminate the great hall housed in the interior.

History of the monument

Between the walls of the “Barca” hall and the next room, there is a narrow passage with two doors. The door that opens to the left leads to the upper rooms of the tower (the winter bedroom of the sultan and the opening to the balcony of the tower). The door that opens to the right leads to a room with a niche at the rear, with a pointed horseshoe arch decorated with “al-tawriq” (vegetal ornamental motif). This room was a small oratory used by the Emir.

The tower has several windows on its four façades, with gargoyles similar to those of the “Justicia” tower and merlons to which they added pyramidal finials in the 16th century. Inside the tower we find the “Embajadores” hall.

It is said, that at this tower took place the meeting, where they decided and agreed to give up Granada to the Catholic Kings. They say that from one of the balconies, Boabdil’s mother, when she knew her son was negotiating the surrender to the Christians, said to him: <>. The legend also says, that here was where Cristobal Colon convinced the Catholic Kings about his voyage to the Indies, and instead he happened to discover America on October 12th, 1492, and where the Queen Isabel offered him her jewels to pay for the voyage.

The name “Comares” is explained in various ways. Some say it comes from the word “amariyya” (glass panels used to close the windows). Others say it comes from the “Comares” village in Malaga, where the glass panels must have been made. The Lebanese author “Amin Maluff“, thinks it comes from the Arab word “kamar”, and therefore the tower would be called Moon Tower, since, according to him, the astrologers used it for the studies of the night sky.

Bibliography

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

Web sites:

• http://www.vivagranada.com/es/alhambra/comares.htm

• http://www.losviajeros.com/fotos/europa/spain/index.php?fn=alhambra

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