Comares Palace
Hall of the Ambassadors & Court of the Myrtles
The Comares Palace is the diplomatic and political heart of the Nasrid Palaces — built primarily by Yusuf I (r. 1333–1354) and completed by his son Muhammad V. It comprises the Court of the Myrtles (the great reflecting pool courtyard), the Hall of the Boat (antechamber), and the Hall of the Ambassadors inside the Comares Tower (the throne room — the most magnificent room in the Alhambra). It also includes the Royal Baths. It is part of the Nasrid Palaces and visited on the timed entry ticket.
The Comares Palace represents the formal, public face of Nasrid royal power — the part of the palace complex where the sultan received ambassadors, conducted state business, and made the architectural statement that his kingdom was among the most sophisticated civilisations of the 14th century. Its defining elements — the long reflecting pool of the Court of the Myrtles, the carved cedar throne-room ceiling of the Hall of the Ambassadors — are among the most celebrated architectural achievements in the Islamic world.
It is one of two main sections of the Nasrid Palaces — the other being the Palace of the Lions, which serves as the private residential counterpart to the Comares Palace’s public ceremonial function. Understanding the difference between the two is key to understanding the spatial logic of the Nasrid Palaces as a whole.
Alhambra Top Tickets
Quick Facts — Comares Palace
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Built by | Yusuf I (main structure); completed by Muhammad V |
| Period | Primarily 1333–1391 |
| Location | Centre of the Nasrid Palaces, between the Mexuar and the Palace of the Lions |
| Entry | Included in all standard Alhambra tickets (timed Nasrid Palaces slot) |
| Key spaces | Court of the Myrtles, Hall of the Ambassadors, Royal Baths, Hall of the Boat |
| Comares Tower height | 45 metres — tallest in the Alhambra |
History of the Comares Palace
The Comares Palace was the official royal residence of the Nasrid sultans — the place where the sultan lived, worked, and exercised the formal functions of sovereignty. Its construction began under Isma’il I in the early 14th century, but the palace as we see it today is primarily the work of Yusuf I (r. 1333–1354), who added the Comares Tower and the Hall of the Ambassadors, and his son Muhammad V (r. 1354–1391), who completed the decorative programme and added the courtyard façade.
After the Christian conquest of 1492, the Comares Palace was used by the Catholic Monarchs and their successors as a royal residence when visiting Granada. It underwent modification in the 16th century when Charles V demolished some of the connecting rooms to build his own palace adjacent to the site. A fire in 1890 destroyed the original ceiling of the Hall of the Boat, which was painstakingly reconstructed in 1964–1965 using surviving fragments.
The Key Spaces
The Comares Palace Façade
The first major element of the Comares Palace encountered by visitors is its entrance façade — the decorative screen wall facing the Patio del Cuarto Dorado (the small courtyard of the Mexuar). This façade is considered one of the finest examples of Nasrid architectural decoration: a rectangular frame of intricate stucco carving surrounding two high windows and a recessed entrance portal, all crowned by a projecting wooden eave cornice of exceptional craftsmanship. The facade was added by Muhammad V to mark his return to power in 1362 after a period of exile.
Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes)
The Court of the Myrtles is the centrepiece of the Comares Palace and one of the most celebrated courtyards in Islamic architecture. Its dimensions — a 36.6-metre rectangular pool flanked by myrtle hedges — were calculated with precise architectural intent: the pool’s calm surface creates a perfect reflection of the Comares Tower, visually doubling its height and creating the illusion of a symmetrical composition that extends below the waterline.
The courtyard is enclosed by arcaded galleries on the north and south ends. The southern gallery (through which visitors enter from the Mexuar) is a 16th-century addition; the northern gallery is original Nasrid work, leading through the Hall of the Boat to the Hall of the Ambassadors. The myrtle hedges that give the courtyard its name are clipped low to avoid obscuring the water surface’s reflective quality.
Photography tip: The best position for the Court of the Myrtles is from the south end looking north, with the full length of the pool in the foreground and the Comares Tower reflected in it. Arrive at your earliest available slot for the stillest water and best light.
Hall of the Boat (Sala de la Barca)
The Hall of the Boat is the long antechamber connecting the Court of the Myrtles to the Hall of the Ambassadors — a transitional space of considerable beauty in its own right. Its name derives from the Arabic baraka (blessing), misheard as barca (boat) in the post-conquest period. The hall measures approximately 24 metres long by 4.35 metres wide, and its reconstructed barrel-vaulted ceiling (rebuilt after the 1890 fire) carries carved plasterwork featuring the dynasty’s motto — ‘There is no victor but God’ — and geometric patterns.
Hall of the Ambassadors (Salón de los Embajadores)
The Hall of the Ambassadors is the most magnificent room in the Alhambra — the sultan’s throne room and the political centre of the Nasrid kingdom. Occupying the entire interior of the Comares Tower, it is a perfect cube of 11.3 metres per side, rising 18.2 metres to its ceiling: a spectacular carved cedar wood dome representing the cosmological structure of the Islamic universe — the Seven Heavens — with God’s throne at the zenith.
The three external walls are each pierced by three alcoves, each alcove containing a paired arched window with a balcony. These nine window positions frame views in nine different directions: east toward the Sierra Nevada, north over the Darro valley, and west toward the city. The symbolism is explicit — the sultan, seated on his throne in the centre of the room, occupied the axis mundi: the point where earth, heaven, and political authority converged.
Every surface of the walls is covered with carved stucco arabesques, geometric tilework dado, and Arabic inscriptions from the Quran and from court poetry. The room is also notable for a historical association: this is believed to be where Ferdinand and Isabella formally received Columbus in 1491–92, and where the terms of his first voyage to the west were discussed — though this specific claim is debated by historians.
Royal Baths (Baños de Comares)
The Royal Baths of the Comares Palace are among the best-preserved Islamic hammam structures in the Western world. Located between the Comares Palace and the Palace of the Lions, they follow the classical sequence of a hammam: the Sala de las Camas (Hall of the Beds — the undressing and resting room), followed by a cold chamber, a warm chamber, and a steam room. The steam room has a copper boiler with water heated by firewood below, distributed to the chambers through hypocaust-style underfloor pipes.
The most remarkable feature is the ceiling of the warm chamber: star-shaped and octagonal skylights pierced through the vault, which in the Nasrid period were glazed with coloured glass. The coloured light filtering through these openings in different directions at different times of day created a controlled chromatic environment — shifting from cool blues in the morning to warm reds in the afternoon.
Comares Tower (Torre de Comares)
The Comares Tower is the tallest structure in the Alhambra, standing 45 metres above the surrounding terrain. It takes its name from the comarías — the coloured glass windows (stained glass) that once filled the windows of the Hall of the Boat below. The tower’s walls are 2.5 metres thick, incorporating three internal alcoves on each of the three external faces. Two additional spaces within the tower walls served as the sultan’s private winter bedchamber (reached via one of the alcove doors) and a small private oratory with a horseshoe arch mihrab.
Visitor Tips for the Comares Palace
- Arrive at the north end of the Court of the Myrtles early — this is where the reflection of the Comares Tower is most dramatic. The position becomes crowded quickly once the tour groups arrive.
- Don’t rush the Hall of the Ambassadors — look up at the cedar dome carefully. The seven concentric rings of geometric carving represent the Seven Heavens. The top of the dome, 18 metres above you, represents the throne of God.
- Find the Royal Baths — follow the signs carefully from the north end of the Court of the Myrtles. They are often missed by visitors who move directly from the Comares Palace to the Palace of the Lions.
- Notice the deliberate use of light — the architect positioned the Hall of the Ambassadors so that the nine alcove windows bathe the room in shifting directional light throughout the day. Morning visits catch the eastern windows; late afternoon catches the western.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hall of the Ambassadors?
The Hall of the Ambassadors is the sultan’s throne room inside the Comares Tower — the largest and most elaborately decorated room in the Alhambra. It measures 11.3 × 11.3 metres and rises 18.2 metres to its cedar dome ceiling, which represents the Seven Heavens of Islamic cosmology. It served as the formal reception room for diplomatic audiences and the ceremonial centre of Nasrid royal power.
What is special about the Court of the Myrtles?
The Court of the Myrtles is famous for its long rectangular reflecting pool — 36.6 metres of calm water that creates a perfect mirror image of the Comares Tower. The reflection was architecturally intentional, doubling the visual impact of the tower and creating a sense of infinite depth. It is one of the most photographed spaces in Spain.
Is the Comares Palace part of the Nasrid Palaces?
Yes. The Comares Palace is one of the three main sections of the Nasrid Palaces — the others being the Mexuar (administrative section) and the Palace of the Lions (private royal residence). All three are visited as part of the timed entry Nasrid Palaces visit, included in the standard Alhambra ticket.
What are the Royal Baths?
The Royal Baths (Baños de Comares) are a well-preserved Islamic hammam structure located between the Comares Palace and the Palace of the Lions. They follow the classical hammam sequence of undressing room, cold chamber, warm chamber, and steam room, and feature remarkable star-shaped skylights that once had coloured glass, creating shifting chromatic light throughout the day.
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