Palace of the Lions
Alhambra’s Most Iconic Courtyard
The Palace of the Lions is the private royal residence within the Nasrid Palaces, built by Muhammad V around 1370–1391. Its centrepiece — the Court of the Lions — is a rectangular courtyard with 124 slender marble columns and a central fountain supported by 12 carved marble lions. The surrounding halls (Hall of the Two Sisters, Hall of the Abencerrajes, Hall of the Kings) contain the finest muqarnas honeycomb vaulted ceilings in existence. It is the most photographed space in the Alhambra.
The Palace of the Lions is the crown jewel of the Alhambra — the space most visitors have in mind when they imagine the palace, and the one that consistently exceeds expectations. Built by the Nasrid sultan Muhammad V around 1370–1391, it served as the sultan’s private residential compound — the harem quarters and the most intimate spaces of the royal household — in contrast to the formal, diplomatic Comares Palace adjacent to it.
It forms the second major section of the Nasrid Palaces, visited after the Comares Palace. Entry is strictly timed as part of the overall Nasrid Palaces slot.
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The Palace of the Lions is the crown jewel of the Alhambra — the space most visitors have in mind when they imagine the palace, and the one that consistently exceeds expectations. Built by the Nasrid sultan Muhammad V around 1370–1391, it served as the sultan’s private residential compound — the harem quarters and the most intimate spaces of the royal household — in contrast to the formal, diplomatic Comares Palace adjacent to it.
It forms the second major section of the Nasrid Palaces, visited after the Comares Palace. Entry is strictly timed as part of the overall Nasrid Palaces slot.
The Court of the Lions — What Makes It Extraordinary
The Court of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) is a rectangular courtyard measuring approximately 28 × 15 metres, enclosed by a gallery of 124 slender white marble columns supporting muqarnas arches of exceptional intricacy. At the centre, 12 carved marble lions (dating from the 11th century, predating the palace itself) support a dodecagonal fountain basin. Four water channels running from each surrounding hall represent the four rivers of paradise described in the Quran.
The Court of the Lions is a document of 14th-century Islamic mathematics, cosmology, and aesthetics rendered in marble and carved plaster. The 124 columns are not arranged in a simple grid — their positioning follows a complex geometric programme that creates different visual effects depending on where you stand. The two small pavilions that project into the courtyard from the east and west ends add depth and shadow to the composition.
The lions themselves are older than the palace — they are believed to have originally stood in the palace of the Jewish vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela before being repurposed by Muhammad V. Each lion represents one month of the lunar calendar. The poem by court poet Ibn Zamrak, inscribed around the upper rim of the fountain basin, describes the lions as warriors holding back the waters of paradise.
The Surrounding Halls
Hall of the Two Sisters (Sala de las Dos Hermanas)
The Hall of the Two Sisters is the northern hall of the Palace of the Lions and contains the finest muqarnas dome in the Alhambra — and arguably in the Islamic world. Its 5,000 individual plaster cells are arranged in concentric rings that spiral upward to an octagonal skylight, encoding geometric patterns that anticipate mathematical concepts not formalised in Western science until the 1970s. The hall takes its name from two large identical marble slabs in the floor. See our Nasrid Palaces guide for the full architectural detail.
Hall of the Abencerrajes (Sala de los Abencerrajes)
The Hall of the Abencerrajes is the southern hall, directly opposite the Hall of the Two Sisters. It is named for the legendary Banu Sarraj family, said to have been massacred here on the orders of a sultan — a story of disputed historical accuracy but enduring romantic power. Its own muqarnas dome is lit by eight star-shaped windows at its base, creating one of the most dramatic light effects in the entire Alhambra. The rust-coloured stain in the central marble basin (attributed in legend to the massacre victims’ blood) is iron oxide mineral deposits.
Hall of the Kings (Sala de los Reyes)
The Hall of the Kings stretches across the full eastern width of the Court of the Lions, divided into three square alcoves. Its most unusual feature is a series of paintings on leather stretched across the alcove domes — depicting ten Nasrid kings seated in council, hunting scenes, and romantic episodes. These figurative paintings are exceptional in an Islamic context and were likely created by Christian artists in a Nasrid workshop, blending Gothic and Islamic artistic traditions uniquely.
Lindaraja Garden (Jardín de Lindaraja)
Between the Hall of the Two Sisters and the Royal Baths lies the intimate Lindaraja Garden — a small private garden that served as the sultan’s most personal outdoor space. It is one of the quieter spots in the Nasrid Palaces and offers some of the best architectural photography compositions within the palace complex, particularly through the balcony arches of the Daraxa Mirador above.
History of the Palace of the Lions
The Palace of the Lions was commissioned by Muhammad V (r. 1354–1391) around 1370 as a private royal residential compound distinct from the formal Comares Palace. Its construction coincided with a period of particular artistic and intellectual flourishing in Nasrid Granada, when the court hosted some of the greatest poets, philosophers, and architects of the medieval Islamic world.
After the Christian conquest of 1492, the palace was used by the Catholic Monarchs and their successors. In the early 16th century, Charles V demolished the upper floors of several halls to build his own adjacent palace. The Palace of the Lions underwent extensive restoration in the 20th century; a major project to restore the original colour, water features, and carved detail of the Court of the Lions fountain was completed in 2012.
Photography Tips
- Best position for the Court of the Lions: North pavilion, shooting south across the fountain. Frame with the pavilion arch in the foreground.
- Best timing: 8:30–10 am — fewest visitors and softest light.
- Muqarnas dome shot: Stand directly beneath the centre of the Hall of the Two Sisters dome and shoot straight up with a wide-angle lens.
- No tripods inside buildings — but handheld photography in the well-lit halls is entirely feasible with a modern camera or smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Court of the Lions?
The Court of the Lions takes its name from the 12 carved white marble lions that support the central fountain basin. The lions are believed to date from the 11th century, predating the palace itself, and originally stood in the palace of Joseph ibn Naghrela before being incorporated into Muhammad V’s courtyard around 1370.
How old are the marble lions?
The 12 marble lions are believed to date from the 11th century — significantly older than the Palace of the Lions itself (built c.1370–1391). They are among the finest examples of Nasrid sculpture and represent the signs of the lunar calendar. The originals are in the process of phased conservation; some displayed may be high-quality reproductions.
What is the muqarnas dome in the Hall of the Two Sisters?
The muqarnas dome is a three-dimensional honeycomb vault made of approximately 5,000 individually carved plaster cells arranged in concentric geometric rings. It is considered the finest example of muqarnas craftsmanship in the world, encoding mathematical patterns that were not formally described in Western science until the 1970s. It is the single most extraordinary architectural feature of the Alhambra.
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