The Amazing Alhambra Trivia Quiz

Answer: Granada

Granada is a popular city for tourists and locals because it is conveniently located by both mountains and beaches. Historically, Granada was once a Moorish stronghold in Spain, which explains the city's large amount of Islamic architecture. The most famous of these buildings is the Alhambra.

The Alhambra was originally a very tiny ancient Roman fort built sometime around 890 AD. When the Moors invaded Spain, the Roman ruins were demolished and the elaborate Alhambra was built on top of them under the orders of Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar. As control over Granada changed hands, so did the Alhambra's function in appearance. The Alhambra is nicknamed the Pearl Among the Emeralds because of its white, glossy appearance in the middle of green trees and forests.

Answer: Fountain

The Court of the Lions is the central courtyard of the Alhambra. It was designed to incorporate both Muslim and Christian art styles. The famous fountain with the lions at the base is not believed to be originally designed for the Court of the Lions.

The fountain is believed to have originated in the house of a wealthy Jewish man who lived centuries before the Alhambra was constructed, although its exact origins are unknown. The Lion Fountain is the subject of a 14th-century poem by Arabic poet Ibn Zamrak.

Answer: The four parts of the world

In Islam, it is said that Paradise is home to four rivers. Each of these rivers is represented by a small waterway in the Court of the Lions with one waterway in each of the four sections that represent the four parts of the world. Such a layout was common at the time in Islamic architecture.

The Court of the Lions also features a number of columns which are meant to represent palm trees and there was once a lavish garden in the court as well. Today, the lavish garden has been downscaled due to the difficulties of keeping a larger garden watered without having to renovate the whole courtyard.

Answer: Honeycomb

Honeycomb ceilings are common in Moorish architecture. It is so named because it looks like a bee's honeycomb texture-wise. The many different sizes of the honeycomb cells allow for better reflection of light on high ceilings.

The Hall of the Abencerrajes is an ornately-decorated room in gold, blue and red with a tall ceiling. Legend has it that the Sultan of Grenada executed his disloyal chiefs in the hall, an event that has spawned many works of art.

Answer: Christian slaves who built the Alhambra

Christian slaves were the people who physically built most of the Alhambra, although it was designed by Muslim architects and Muslim professional builders also worked on the Alhambra. As control of Spain, and Granada in particular, went back and forth between Christian and Muslim hands for centuries, the architecture of the Alhambra also changed which explains why some areas are more Latinized than others.


A monument to the Christian slaves who built the complex is located in the Martyrs' Villa on Monte Mauror near the Alhambra. It was at this location where the slaves lived in underground chambers. There are also Roman ruins on Monte Mauror that weren't discovered until the mid-19th century.

Answer: Court of the Myrtles

The Court of the Myrtles or the Patio de los Arrayanes is known for its large pond, giving it the nickname Patio of the Pond. The pond occupies a significant part of the area. The Court of the Myrtles was named after the myrtle bushes that now adorn the area. It is located near the entrance to the Casa Real or Palacio Arabe part of the Alhambra.

Answer: Yeseria

Yeseria is a technique of plasterwork that can be seen throughout the Alhambra, especially in the Plaza de Nazaries. Yeseria can be identified by its elaborate geometric shapes.


The three parts of the Royal Complex are the Harem, Mexuar and Serallo. The Harem is the living quarters for the rulers' wives. It was elaborately decorated and contained luxurious showers and bathrooms with running water, something rarely seen centuries ago. The Mexuar, pictured, is the section containing the rooms where business was done. It is less ornate than the rest of the Royal Complex. The Serallo contains most of the outdoor gardens and was generally a place of recreation for the men. The Serallo is the most colorful part of the Royal Complex and many different artistic techniques are on display there.

Answer: It was designed by Antonio Gaudi

The Palace of Charles V was the idea of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in the early 16th century. The purpose of it was so there would be an original Spanish creation in the vast complex of the Alhambra instead of just the areas converted from Moorish to Spanish design. However, the architect Pedro Machuca never completed the palace and only wound up designing some of the building. Not much is known of Machuca except he was new artist when he was commissioned to build the palace. Why he never finished it is unknown though it is commonly believed he got bored with the project and moved on to other things as his fame grew. The palace is built in the plateresque style which incorporated Spanish and Gothic styles. Antonio Gaudi did not live until the 19th century, well after the start of the construction.

Because it was never finished, Charles V never lived there. In fact, it is believed no one of any major importance ever lived there considering the building did not have a roof until 1957. The palace's most famous feature is its outdoor, two-story patio.

Answer: It was the first place the flag of the Reconquista was raised

The Torre de la Vela was the first place in Spain where the Reconquista flag was raised on January 2, 1492. This symbolized the Spanish/Catholic take over of Spain from the Moors by Ferdinand and Isabella. Prior to this, the Torre de la Vela was a simple watchtower. Today, there is a large bell in the tower that was originally used to signal when the fertile farmlands of Granada should be watered.

Answer: Its elaborate gardens

The Palacio de Generalife was once connected to the Alhambra via bridge that is no longer existence. It is still considered part of the Alhambra complex, however. In appearance, Generalife resembles very little of the Alhambra. It has been renovated many times over the centuries and has a more modern look to it.

This is also true of its elaborate garden complex because of water problems so different plants were planted that need less water. Despite this, there is still some evidence of Moorish architecture in the Generalife such as the fountains and columns.