ALHAMBRA • The Hydraulic System (Private guided tour of Alhambra)
Private guided visit Alhambra to discover the ingenious water system in the medieval city
ALHAMBRA & GENERALIFE• The Hydraulic System: Conquering Water (Private guided tour of Alhambra) with an English-speaking guide and coordinated access; plan 2.5–3 hours (main entrance meet)
If you are fascinated by water, gardens and ingenious old engineering, this private tour is for you. We follow the medieval water channels that still feed the Alhambra and Generalife today, combining history, landscape and simple explanations that make a complex system easy to understand.
How to Book with Us?
Write to us at hellocicerone@gmail.com
Please mention the title of this tour, the number of participants in your group, and your preferred date to take the tour with us. We will get back to you as soon as possible with a personalized quote.
By booking via email, we confirm availability before any payment, can adjust schedules and details to your preferences, and send you all the information in writing so you can feel confident about what you are booking.
What will you see on this tour?
• The route of the Acequia Real, the main water channel that brought water from the mountains to the Alhambra.
• Gardens, orchards and viewpoints where water becomes the main character of the landscape.
• Everyday stories about how water was used in palaces, houses and fields around the Alhambra.
Water at the Alhambra: Epitome of Ingenuity and Beauty
Water is another character in the history of the Alhambra. It can be found throughout the monument and its surroundings. When you do not see it, you can hear it. But what can it tell us? The water can tell us a lot more than it might seem. This is much more than a huge landscape of sound: it is the epitome of the surprising intellectual and technological development of the Nasrids. Even the starting point is already exceptional because the water found there had to be raised 6 kilometers in altitude. How did they manage to overcome the challenge posed by gravity in the Middle Ages?
The crown jewel of the hydraulic system of the Alhambra is the Acequia Real. From this “Royal Ditch,” water is channeled to supply the city, with its fountains and gardens and spaces devoted to farming. To achieve this, they built a complex system of siphons, aqueducts and underground pipes, which are still working today.
To see how they did this up close, we follow the course of water along the entire length of the guided tour, focusing on the source of life for the medieval city. From this place, you will understand how the entire city was built around the hydraulic system and its organization. We also visit the Polinario bath, where we talk about the purifying role of water in the Qur’an and the life of the Alhambra’s inhabitants.
Would you like to discover one of the most unknown foundations of the Alhambra?
Why should I hire a private tour guide to see the Alhambra’s hydraulic system?
- Because we answer all the questions you have while you take the guided tour.
- We focus on what interests you so that you can enjoy the most bespoke visit possible.
- The Alhambra is such a special place that you should not experience it half-heartedly.
- We show you unique places so that you can take home the memory you deserve.
Practical information
Meeting Point
Main entrance pavilion. Esplanade. "Punto de encuentro/meeting point" signpost.
Itinerary
Models of the Alhambra, Main entrance pavilion, Orchads of Generalife, Lower Gardens of Generalife, Interior of Generalife Palace, Patio of Ciprés de la Sultana, Water Staircase, Water Tower, Hammam at the Royal Street, Gardens and Palace of Partal, Plaza del Aljibe (water deposit) and Justice Gate.
Duration
2.5 hours approximately.
Languages available
What is included
Tickets for the Gardens of Alhambra & Generalife.
Professional expert guide
Not included:
Entrance to the Nasrid Palaces
Cancellation policy
Tickets are personal, non-transferable, and cannot be modified.
The cost of tickets for the monument is non-refundable and will not be reimbursed in case of cancellation.
The remaining amount can be canceled free of charge up to 48 hours before the service is provided.
No refund will be issued if the cancellation occurs within 48 hours prior to the service or if the client fails to show up on the service date.
Cancellation or modification requests must be sent via email to hellocicerone@gmail.com
From 245€
Price varies by group size
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Special Requests
If you have any questions or special requests, please do not hesitate to contact us at hellocicerone@gmail.com or call us at +34-607691676 / +34-958561810
We are looking forward to welcoming you in Granada!
FAQs
Is this tour very technical?
Does this tour include the Nasrid Palaces?
Is it suitable for children or teenagers?
Is this hydraulic system tour a good choice if I have already done a general Alhambra tour before?