40 GRANADA 



scene." The court forms an oblong, bounded 

 at the north and south by two galleries supported 

 on eight columns of white marble, and to the east 

 and west by walls pierced with doors and twin- 

 windows covered with arabesques, but differing 

 in degree of ornamentation. At each angle 

 we find an alhami or alcove, where the Moors 

 were accustomed to laze away the day, extended 

 on rich carpets and divans. The walls of these 

 little places are encrusted with reliefs in stucco, 

 their roofs are of the stalactite pattern. Along 

 the middle of the court extends the alberca or 

 fish-pond, its margins hidden by orange trees and 

 myrtles. The clear water gushes up into two 

 round basins at either end. To the north, the 

 prospect is closed by the battlemented Tower of 

 Comares, to the south by the walls of the Palace 

 of Charles V. Through one of the entrances can 

 be seen the fountain in the Patio de los Leones. 

 The court is redolent of the languor, voluptuous- 

 ness, and splendour of the East. 



Each arcade is composed of seven semicircular 

 arches, the central one reaching up to the cornice, 

 while the others, much lower, are closed with 

 perforated wood work or lattices. Thereof of the 

 southern gallery is of artesonado or troughed form, 

 and bears seven small cupolas ; over the central 

 arch of the northern gallery is a single cupola 

 painted with little gold stars on a blue ground. 



