Alhambra construction begins in Granada

1232

Muhammad I ibn al-Ahmar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty of Granada, began fortifying a Roman-era hill overlooking the Darro River. What began as a military complex would over two centuries grow into the most exquisite Islamic palace ensemble in Europe, the Red Fort. The site's natural springs and commanding views of the Sierra Nevada made it both strategically sound and hauntingly beautiful.