Alcazaba

The Alcazaba is a fortress located at the western tip of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It is the oldest surviving part of the Alhambra and was built by Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, the founder of the Nasrid dynasty, after 1238. The fortress was constructed on the site of an earlier fortress built by the Zirid kingdom of Granada in the 11th century. The Alcazaba is a natural defensive position and was fortified from the 9th century onward. It features several towers, including the Torre de la Vela, Torre del Homenaje, and Torre Quebrada. The fortress was used as a refuge by forces opposing the Almoravids and Almohads, and later as a royal residence by the Nasrid sultans. After the Christian conquest of Granada, the Alcazaba was modified and extended to fortify it against gunpowder artillery. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and offers stunning views of the city