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| The Generalife |
The word "Generalife" has
been translated as "garden of paradise", "orchard"
or "garden of feasts".
After the city was conquered, the Generalife was
granted by the Catholic Monarchs to the Granada Venegas family.
The promenade leads to the "Patio de la Acequia"
which is the most celebrated spot and the heart and soul of the
palace grounds. On the western side there is a gallery of 18 arches.
The northern portico is called the Mirador and has five arches in
front, slender and stylised and three behind made of marble with
stalactite capitals. Through the north portico is the "Patio
de los Cipreses", with a pool in the centre.
The distribution of the small ponds is charming
with their frames of oleander and myrtle. A stone step leads to
the Upper Gardens which were once olive groves and today boast a
handsome esplanade and modern gardens. Here is the unusual stairway
with its cascading waterfalls which was described by Navagiero as
early as the 16th century. The stairway leads to a modern, uninteresting
edifice of several stories. At the far end is the large open air
stage where the annual International Festival of Music and Dance
is performed.
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