Places and Spots in the Alhambra: The “Justicia” Gate/Tower (Alhambra)

The “Justicia” Gate/Tower (Alhambra)

Short description of the monument

The “Justicia” Tower is located at the south wall of the fortress next to the “Pilar de Carlos V”. It is the actual main entrance to the compound of the Alhambra. According to the inscription over the arch of the interior door, it was constructed by Yusuf I (1333-1353), called «Bib Axarea» or gate of the esplanade, and finished the month of the exalted Nativity of 749 (June of 1348 of the Christian era).

History of the monumentbr>
The façade has a horseshoe arch framed with bricks, a lintel with voussoir and a marble keystone with a hand carved in the hollow, which is considered, by some people, a charm or amulet as a cure for a curse. Others think it is an emblem of the Koran, because its five fingers correspond to their five fundamental commandments: unity of God, prayer, fasting, alms and pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

After the open space we find once we have passed the arch, we find ourselves, at the interior door, with another stone-made vaulted horseshoe arch with shells at the keystone and “al-baniqa” (the triangle shaped space between the arch and the frame or moulding around it, characteristic in Moslem architecture). At the abacus of the capital of the columns you can read:<>. At the central voussoir of the lintel, there is a key with a cord, with a meaning that is not very clear, although some say it is a symbol of the power given to Mahomet of opening and closing the Gates to Heaven, according to the Koran.

Above this arch, we find the inscription that makes reference to the date of the construction of the gate, previously mentioned. Over the inscription, there is a niche with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and her child, which is a replica of the original sculpture from 1501, located at the Fine Arts Museum.

The exit door, also with a horseshoe arch, has a decoration based on tiles and lovely “ataurique” or “al-tawriq” (decorative vegetal motif, characteristic of the Moslem decoration) at its left “al-baniqa” (the triangle shaped space between the arch and the frame around it).

Web sites:

• http://www.alhambradegranada.org/historia/alhambraTJusticia.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