Granada's historical legacy has left us traces from Iberians, Romans, Nasrids, Christians.... However, the heritage of the Al-Andalus culture is still very present in our way of seeing the world, in our way of eating and in the art that surrounds us. So, it is difficult not to imagine our city without the imposing Alhambra, which welcomes from the top of the city all those who visit it, all those who live in it.
Witness of time, already in a more contemporary history, the wall of the Hotel Alhambra Palace is now part of the architectural and artistic imaginary of all the people of Granada, who no longer know their city without it. Pure Neo-Arabic inspiration, in 1905 it was the starting out point for the construction of a palace, full of art and which, with the passing of time, would form part of the history, not only of a city, but also of a country, where it has already become a true legend.
As the mexican poet and essayist Octavio Paz said, ‘Architecture is the least corruptible witness of history’. Thus, Hotel Alhambra Palace seems to be a witness of an era, of its culture; of its values, its ideas and symbols.
This is how its founder, the Duke of Galatino, Julio Quesada-Cañaveral, who recognised the beauty and essence of a place and made the Alhambra his inspiration to create the Hotel Alhambra Palace as we know it today.
After 115 years Hotel Alhambra Palace has preserved intact the essence of its creator with all the comfort that our visitors need today. As described by Maria Teresa Hontoria Puentes, in the book Historia de Hotel Alhambra Palace ‘It is unimaginable to look at the city without our eyes meeting the imposing image of the Hotel Alhambra Palace’.
The hill of Mauror, where the Hotel Alhambra Palace is placed, is the opposite hill to the Alhambra. Next to it, spreads the Barrio del Realejo, previously known as the Garnata al Yahud. As a curiosity and anecdote, you may know that our hotel is located, is called Peña Partida. Its name, apparently, was given by the cutting of the hill that the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Ferdinando, ordered to be made for the entrance of the cannons to the Alhambra, being, in such a way, split by this place.
This part of the hill was, and still is, our first point of reference if we see it from the south of Granada; because from this cardinal point it is the only one from which you cannot see the Alhambra, but you can see the grandiose Hotel Alhambra Palace.
The particular style, appearance and history of the Alhambra Palace Hotel soon attracted personalities from all over the world. Travellers, kings, nobles, scholars, poets, artists... They were looking for a place to dream, more than just to overnight stay.
The influence of Washington Irving, the artistic boom of the time towards arab art, decisively influenced the creation of the Hotel Alhambra Palace as we see it today, a place to admire the majesty of the Alhambra, with the luxury of a hotel.
In this way, Modesto Cendoya, municipal architect in Granada from 1885 until his retirement in 1927 and conservator of the Alhambra between 1907 and 1923, began to design a building in the historicist style with a marked neo-Arabic character.
Plasterwork, tiles, coffered ceilings... are not only a decorative complement, they are its essence. Always keeping in view the spectacular Alhambra as inspiration, its neo-Nazari style is based on the same philosophy, where beauty is inside.
Thus, when you get into the Hotel Alhambra Palace you will notice a big change from our façade, where at first sight you will see epigraphic plaster decoration, with phrases from the Koran and tiles with vegetal and geometric decoration.
‘The neo-Arabic style dominates everywhere. Here, the idea of hyper-perfection is taken to the limit, transforming every corner of the hotel into an Alhambra baroque style of seductive beauty’.
Its distinctive orange, green and blue colours, enveloped by the magical light of Granada, fill everything with a halo of magic that is pure delight for the senses.
