The Circular Marvel Within the Alhambra – The Palace of Charles V

Walking through the Alhambra Palace, you come across stone columns, arcades that curve gracefully, and light that quietly streams down into a perfectly circular open space. This is the Palace of Charles V, a Renaissance imprint within the Islamic palace complex. While the exterior is surrounded by a massive and cold stone structure, stepping inside reveals an overwhelming beauty of symmetry. Beneath the circular arcade, stone columns are arranged in perfect order, and above them, another arcade is elegantly supported by Ionic columns. This palace was constructed by the Catholic Monarchs who unified Spain, as a symbol of Christian imperial power and order, right in the heart of the Muslim royal palace. As such, the space creates a unique tension, dramatically contrasting with the ornate and intricate curves of the Alhambra. Location: At the heart of the Alhambra Palace complex • Architectural Style: Renaissance, Italian classical architecture • Construction Began: 1527 • Architect: Pedro Machuca • Significance: A Christian monarch's palace built in the center of the Islamic-style Alhambra Palace, creating a striking cultural contrast.