Escalera del Agua – Water Stairway
Escalera del Agua – Water Stairway
The image shows part of the stairway know as the Escalera del Agua (Water Stairway) situated in the upper gardens of the Generalife in Granada, Spain.
The stairway consists of three levels of steps. At the end of each level is a circular-shaped terrace with a fountain at its center. Built atop the wall on each side of the stairway is a narrow canal with the water flowing down. The shade from the trees in the surrounding gardens and the water running in the canals keep the place cooler and make the uphill walk pleasant for visitors.
In the Nasrid era, this stairway lead to a small oratario (oratory or prayer hall) that existed at the upper end of the stairway, which happens to be the highest point of the Generalife. The royals used this stairway to climb up to the oratario to pray and then relax watching the panoramic view of the surrounding areas. A small observatory known as Mirador Romántico (Romantic Viewpoint) replaced the oratory in the 19th century.
Related Pages
– Generalife – Heavenly Gardens of the Nasrids
– Alhambra
— Palacios Nazaríes – Nasrid Palaces – A Shining Example of Moorish Art and Architecture
— Los Jardines del Partal – The Gardens of the Partal
— Alcazaba – A Formidable Fortress of the Nasrids
— Medina, the Bustling City
— Alhambra – Christian-Era Monuments
— Alhambra – Outer Monuments
Copyright © 2020 by Lawrence Rodrigues. All rights reserved.