The Alhambra [antikvár]

INTRODUCTIONThe Alhambra is Spain's best-kept secret. This glorious medieval palace, which resembles a child's toy castle, sits on the Assabica hills. (Assabica is Arabicfor red.) The palace was built in the years ijj4-pi and was the seat of the magnificent Nasrid caliphs. What stories this building could tell if only it could speak! Despite the austerity of the palace's outward appearance, its immaculately restored interior more closely resembles a lady's boudoir. However, there are no statues or figurative paintings in the palace, as Islam strictly forbids images of any kind. Like Hittite and Ottoman palaces, the palace of the Alhambra was divided into three sections. First, there was the Mexuar, the chamber where public business was transacted. Members ofthe public could penetrate no further into the palace than the Mexuar. At the end ofthe MexuarI is a small private chapel that was built by the Catholic monarchs,i 'Ferdinand and Isabella, after they conquered the palace in 14^2. Beyond the Mexuar, there was the Court of the Myrtles where more private administrative business was conducted and where ambassadors were received. (It was in the Hall of the Ambassadors that Columbus presented his.-scheme to cross the Atlantic to the Catholic monarchs of Aragon and Castile.) The 'goldfish pool is the central pivot of the Court of the Myrtles.Finally, the private apartments of the king and his wives and