The Dar al-Orra Palace is a Nasrid palace located in the Albaicín area. It was built in the 15th century on the site of an old 11th century Syrian palace. Its name in Arabic translates as the Queen's House. It was once the home of Queen Aisha, Boabdil's mother. Later, the king lived here with Zoraya, who was originally his slave and later became his second wife. After the Catholic Monarchs conquered Granada, the palace was handed over to Don Hernando de Safra. Later it was an interior part of the Monastery of Santa Isabel la Real until the palace was acquired by the State in the 20th century.
The Dar Al Orra Palace has two floors and a defensive tower. It is built around a patio with two galleries, each of which consists of three semi-circular arches (the central arch is higher than the lateral arches). They are supported by cylindrical columns with typical Nasrid capitals, which are very similar to the columns in the courtyard of the Alhambra.
In the center of the palace courtyard there is a small artificial deposit. The painting of the ceiling of the lower living room has been preserved. The most notable element of the upper hall is the observation deck, which is also one of the most recognizable elements of the palace. Its original decoration and most of the architectural elements have survived to this day in good condition.
This building belongs to a place that is considered the old nucleus of the original Muslim Granada. It used to be located near the fortress walls that surrounded this urban area.
Address: Callejón de las Monjas Albayzin, s / n, 18008 Granada, Spain
Telephone: +34 958 02 79 71
