Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles), Granada

The Court of the Myrtles is one of the most recognizable spaces in the Nasrid Palaces. Located east of the Gilded Room and west of the Palace of the Lions and the baths, it was once known as the Court of the Pond or Reservoir. It acquired its present name from the myrtle shrubs that line the central pool.

The courtyard measures approximately 140 feet long by 74 feet wide and is divided into two sides by its long rectangular reflecting pool. The pool is fed by fountains at either end and surrounded by galleries and porticoes resting on slender columns. Their capitals and arches are decorated with geometric fretwork and inscriptions praising God. The chambers along the northern side belong to the Comares Palace, the royal residence.

Water is the defining element of the courtyard. Supplied through the Alhambra’s sophisticated water system, it reflects the surrounding architecture and creates an atmosphere of extraordinary calm.
From the courtyard, the Comares Tower rises above the roofline and appears perfectly reflected in the pool.

For visitors, the best way to appreciate the space is to stand at one end and look along the entire length of the water. Notice how the reflection seems to double the architecture and how the ripples subtly distort the tower.

There is also a deeper symbolism in the reflection. The Sultan could admire his magnificent tower above him, while its fleeting image in the water might remind him that even earthly power and glory are temporary.