“Every curious traveller keeps Granada in their heart, even if they have never been there,” wrote Shakespeare. And it is true, Granada is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The reason?
The Alhambra: a stunning palace, fortress, and city built by the Nasrid monarchs of the Kingdom of Granada.
The Alhambra is not only famous for its incredible architecture and gardens but also for the many legends that surround it. These stories inspired the American writer Washington Irving to write his famous book, Tales of the Alhambra.
Granada legendary curse
One of the most famous legends takes place in the Court of the Lions in Granada, perhaps the most emblematic room in the palace involving a curse. The story tells of an Arab princess named Zaira who fell in love with a young man while travelling through Al-Andalus.
When her cruel father discovered this, he condemned the young man to death. But Zaira found the king’s secret diary, where he admitted to murdering her real parents. Furious, she confronted the king in the Court of the Lions, where he was surrounded by his eleven assistants.
Using a magical amulet, Zaira turned the king and his men into the stone lions that still stand guard in the courtyard today.
Discover more of Spain’s wonderful myths and legends with Bridging the Gap
