During the Middle Ages, the Moors from North Africa conquered most of Spain and Portugal and established a kingdom there.
They chose as their capital the city of Granada, where they built a splendid palace fortress surrounded by red brick walls. The fortress came to be known as the Alhambra, from the Arabic word for "The Red".
The Alhambra is so large that it would take about an hour to walk around its walls. But the Alhambra is valued much more for its beauty than for its size. It has been called by many people as "the most beautiful structure on Earth".
Throughout the Alhambra one finds marble and alabaster sculptures, colorful mosaics, swimming pools, fountains, and tree-lined courtyards. One of the most beautiful parts of the Alhambra is the Patio of the Lions, named after the alabaster fountain in the middle of the courtyard, and adorned with 12 lions carved in white marble. Each lion is said to represent each of the twelve sons of Israel, as well as the zodiacal signs.
According to legend, the Alhambra is so beautiful that the people who lived there refused to go to heaven when they died, so it is no wonder that the Alhambra is frequented by the ghosts of its former residents!
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