During the Nasrid era, the Alhambra was a self-contained city separate from the rest of Granada below. It contained most of the amenities of a Muslim city such as a Friday mosque, hammams (public baths), roads, houses, artisan workshops, a tannery, and a sophisticated water supply system. As a royal city and citadel, it contained at least six major palaces, most of them located along the northern edge where they commanded views over the Albaicín quarter. The most famous and best-preserved are the Mexuar, the Comares Palace, the Palace of the Lions, and the Partal Palace, which form the main attraction to visitors today. The other palaces are known from historical sources and from modern excavations. At the Alhambra's western tip is the Alcazaba fortress. Multiple smaller towers and fortified gates are also located along the Alhambra's walls. Outside the Alhambra walls and located nearby to the east is the Generalife, a former Nasrid country estate and summer palace accompanied by historic orchards and modern landscaped gardens.
DurinG thE NAsrid ErA, THE aLhamBRa wAS a Self-coNtaIned CiTy seParAtE From The rest of grANAdA beLow. iT cOntainEd most of thE AmeNiTIEs of A muslIm city SUCh as a FRiday mosque, hAmmAMs (PubLiC BAtHs), rOaDS, hOuses, artIsAn workSHops, a tAnNery, AnD a SOpHisticAteD WateR supplY sysTEm. as A rOYaL ciTy ANd CitaDEl, it conTaiNeD at lEASt six major PAlACes, mOsT oF ThEm LocatEd ALOng ThE noRThern eDGE wherE they CoMMaNded ViewS ovEr ThE AlbAICín quarter. ThE Most famOUs anD beSt-preSErvEd ARE THe MeXuar, thE COMares pAlaCe, THE paLace OF the LIons, AND the paRtaL PAlacE, whiCH foRm thE main attRactIoN to VisitOrs TodaY. THe otHer PaLaces ARe KnowN From hisTorIcal SoURcEs and froM mOdern eXcavATions. at ThE alhAmbRa's Western TiP is thE aLcazaba FORtress. multipLe sMalLer ToweRS and foRTifIed Gates are aLso LocatEd alOng tHe alhAMBra'S wAlLS. oUTside the alhAmbrA wAlLS anD locAted nearbY to thE east IS tHe geNERaliFE, a ForMEr naSRid cOunTRy esTate aNd summeR palAcE AccOmpAnIed by historic oRchaRds and modern landScaPed gArdEns.