The Generalife Gardens, located in the northern part of the Alhambra Palace complex, used to be the country residence of the emirs belonging to the Nasrid dynasty who ruled Granada in the 13th-14th centuries. They are located on the Serro del Sol hill, a perfect complement to the enormous walls of the old fortress. Many years ago they were connected to each other by a covered bridge, and now they are separated by a ravine. Today, hundreds of the brightest flowers and plants still grow here, including boxwood, multi-colored roses, yellow-fiol, cloves, cypress, and other plants. The gardens are a true masterpiece of garden art and are deservedly inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, delighting thousands of tourists year after year with its fabulous landscapes.
As in most structures of this type in the Arab world, there is a beautiful romantic legend about the appearance of the Generalife, according to which a Muslim ruler, having learned the prediction that his son would be condemned to misfortune in marriage, He decided to make the gardens his home to exclude this possibility. Looking at the perfection of the garden area, one really has the feeling that this is an earthly paradise, as if it had come true from someone's violent fantasy. The Generalife Gardens and Parks Complex was born in 1319 and has been transformed many times in the following centuries. There are many ornamental buildings and courtyards, making the garden even more attractive and bright.
One of the most spectacular parts of the garden is the cypress courtyard, also known as the Sultanshi Garden, which is abundant in cypress trees. There is also a tragic legend about the love of one of Sultan Boabdil's wives for a young man from the Abencerrahe family. One day, thanks to his spies, the ruler found out about the betrayal and found lovers under a cypress. Fortunately, the young man managed to hide, but the coat of arms on his shield gave him belongings and later the sultan gave the order to take the lives of all the members of his family. Now in the cypress yard you can see the same tree, which as a sign of the veracity of this story, hangs a poster with the inscription
"This cypress saw the love story of the wife of Sultan Boabdil and knight of the Abenserrach family "
Behind the cypress patio, the lion and water stairs draw visitors' attention to the upper gardens of the Generalife Palace. The paths in the garden area are paved with black and white stones in the classic Granada style. The symbol of the gardens is the canal of the Patio de la Asechia, planted with orange and myrtle trees, which is crossed by picturesque canals. The Generalife Gardens can be described without end, so it is better to simply visit them to see with your own eyes the incredible beauty of this fabulous place.
