Photo Gallery

Lemons and oranges growing over a wall in the afternoon light of the Albayzín. © Jose Val Bal

The Albayzín at night, with its illuminated windows and mystery. © Jose Val Bal

A watercolor of a beautiful and historic carmen in the Albayzín, recently restored. © Ricardo Bellido Ceballos

A watercolor of the Darro canyon at the base of the Albayzín, showing early fall colors and one of the low bridges. © Ricardo Bellido Ceballos

The center of the Albayzín, with its complexity of terraces, balconies, windows, and flowers. © Jose Val Bal

The Alhambra aglow, as seen each night from the Albayzín. © Steven Nightingale

The Albayzín as seen from the Sabika Hill, high in the Darro Canyon, east of the Alhambra. © Robert Blesse

The Alhambra at twilight, with the famous Torre de Comares in the foreground and the Sierra Nevada along the horizon. © Robert Blesse

Windows of colored glass found now and again in the Albayzín. The morning meant green and blue streaming light in the room. © Steven Nightingale

The poster advertising the Concurso de Cante Jondo—Contest of Deep Song—organized by García Lorca and Manuel Falla in 1922. It was planned for the Placeta de San Nicolás in the Albayzin, but the big crowds obliged a move to the terrace of the Alhambra.

In the Albayzín, wherever there is support,roses will climb and bloom and, given the chance, grow over the roof and onto the street. © Steven Nightingale

The thriving Calderería Nueva in the Albayzín, where Arab merchants from north Africa sell goods from around the world. © Jose Val Bal

The Church of Saint John, in the lower Albayzín, with its fine Almohad tower. The church has been recently restored. © Jose Val Bal

The church of San Pedro at the base of the Albayzín, with the Alhambra soaring above. © Jose Val Bal

The legendary double arches of the Mezquita in Cordoba. Standing among them for any length of time can give rise to a feeling of weightlessness.

In a small garden in the Albayzín, a young fig tree growing aside a flourishing mock orange. © Steven Nightingale

An olambrilla—an example of the small painted tiles often inset into terra cotta floors in the Albayzín—this one of a pomegranate. © Steven Nightingale

A street in the Albayzín engulfed by bougainvillea. © Steven Nightingale

A street near our carmen in the Albayzín, with its vines, cobblestones, and come-hither narrow passageway. © Steven Nightingale

A beautiful terrace in the Albayzín. It has the traditional offerings: grapevine, flowers, railing, woodwork and open sitting area. © Steven Nightingale

The entrance to a typical carmen, with fountain, alberca, flowers, lanterns, brickwork, grapevine, and dappled light. The Alcazar of the Alhambra rises in the distance. © Steven Nightingale

The hill of the Sacromonte above the Albayzín, where the famous lead tablets were found bearing the Seal of Solomon. © Steven Nightingale

Tile work over the entranceway to a house in the center of the Albayzín. We came to think of our neighborhood as a barrio of stars. © Steven Nightingale

A classic torreón of a lovely carmen, with sitting area, flowers, and irresistible hammock. © Steven Nightingale