Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Court of the Myrtles
References
Images
Court of the Myrtles at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, showing a long rectangular reflecting pool bordered by trimmed hedges and arched colonnades, with a large tower behind. View across the long reflective pond in the Court of Myrtles toward the arched facade and tower of the Comares Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
Britannica AI Icon

Court of the Myrtles

patio, Granada, Spain
Also known as: Patio de los Arrayanes
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Court of the Myrtles at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, showing a long rectangular reflecting pool bordered by trimmed hedges and arched colonnades, with a large tower behind.
Spain: Alhambra The Court of the Myrtles is one of the principal courts of the Alhambra, in Granada, Spain.

The Court of the Myrtles, or Patio de los Arrayanes, is a significant courtyard within the Alhambra palace and fortress complex in Granada, Spain. This patio, constructed primarily between 1238 and 1358, served as a space where the Nasrid sultans would hold audiences.1

The court measures approximately 140 feet long by 74 feet wide and features a large reflecting pond in its center. The vibrant green of the pond and the surrounding myrtle plants create a striking contrast with the white marble of the courtyard. This architectural feature is a prime example of Spanish patio design, which evolved from Roman atriums and was heavily influenced by Moorish customs, offering a secluded and decorative space.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. Alhambra
  2. patio

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.