The day I visited the Alhambra, it was simply heaving with crowds of tourists. I think it something of a miracle that I managed to get some photos that show the resplendence of the place unmarred by visitors. We'll just pretend we are there alone, like Washington Irving. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in 889 and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-11th century by the Moorish king Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Kingdom of Granada, who built its current palace and walls. It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. (Wikipedia)