The Alcazaba of the Alhambra
Written by official guides
The Alcazaba is the military and oldest part of the Alhambra, a fortress built on the remains of an earlier 11th-century defensive enclosure. It occupies the western end of the monumental complex and its towers offer some of the best views of Granada.
This article explains its history, what you can see inside the fortress and how to buy tickets, including the option of visiting it without the Nasrid Palaces.
History of the Alcazaba
The Alcazaba was built by Muhammad ibn Nasr, founder of the Nasrid dynasty, from 1238, on the site of an 11th-century Zirid fortress.
On 2 January 1492, after Granada surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs, the flag of Castile was raised on the Torre de la Vela, a moment that made it a symbol of the Christian conquest.
During the 16th century, the Spanish carried out alterations and extensions to adapt the fortress to gunpowder artillery, works completed around 1589.
What to see in the Alcazaba
The route focuses on the defensive towers and the remains of the military quarter that occupied the inside of the fortress.
1. The Torre de la Vela
The bastion tower at the western end, with four levels. Since 1492 it has held a bell that marked the irrigation times for the Granada plain and still rings on special dates.
2. The Keep (Torre del Homenaje)
The tallest structure in the Alcazaba, at 26 metres, in the north-east corner. It served as the military command post and has five vaulted floors.
3. The Military Quarter
The archaeological remains of the garrison's houses, excavated in the 20th century, with a cistern, communal kitchens and a small hammam.
4. The Garden of the Adarves
A garden laid out on the south wall, with fountains from the Christian period and views of the Albaicín.
5. The Torre Quebrada
A 14th-century tower added during the reign of Yusuf I, part of the fortress's northern defensive system.
Opening hours and tickets for the Alcazaba
The Alcazaba is visited with the General ticket to the Alhambra (€22.27), which also includes the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife, or with the Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba ticket (€12.73), which gives access to the Torre de la Vela and the Garden of the Adarves without needing a ticket to the Nasrid Palaces.
Opening hours are the same as for the rest of the complex: 8:30 to 18:00 from 15 October to 31 March, and 8:30 to 20:00 from 1 April to 14 October. Access to the Alcazaba is within those general opening hours of the monument.
How to get to the Alcazaba
The Alcazaba is inside the Alhambra enclosure, at Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n. City bus lines 30 and 32 connect the monument with Plaza Isabel la Católica, in the centre of Granada.
On foot, the most direct route is the Cuesta de Gomérez from Plaza Nueva. By car, access is via the Ronda Sur, leaving the N-332 at exit 20 towards the Alhambra.
The Alcazaba can be visited with the cheapest ticket to the complex, the Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba ticket, which makes it a good option if you have not managed to get a ticket to the Nasrid Palaces. Even so, it is best to buy it in advance at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es, because the general capacity of the monument is also limited.
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