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

The “Damas” Tower (Alhambra)

Short description of the monument

This tower is the most important among the buildings of the magnates that lived around the Royal Palace in Arab times, and the decoration is the oldest of the Alhambra. This tower has been known with different names depending on who lived in it. Its actual name was given at the end of the 18th century. At one time, the building was called “Partal” (porticoe), after the porticoe formed by its five arches (the central arch is the biggest), which are reflected on the water of the rectangular pond located before them.

Until 1924, when the reforms were finished, the different owners of this tower made several reforms to it, in order to make it more comfortable and homely.

It consists of the porticoe, a square room and a staircase that leads to the “mirador” that was constructed later, from which you can admire the “Darro” valley. The five arches of the porticoe, of which only the central one remains, were supported by marble columns, and before these, by brick pillars.

At the left of this tower, there are three small Arab houses, constructed with posteriority and joined to it. Inside one of these small houses they discovered paintings which, although they were incomplete and damaged, they are the only paintings of this kind of all the Moslem period in Spain. Painted in the first half of the 14th century, they represent and show hunting scenes, fantastic animals, men and women.

Bibliography

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

Web sites:

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

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