Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
30 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
30 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
30 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
30 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Granada Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra

Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra

Spanish architects used seized Muslim gravestones to rebuild parts of the fortress.

Granada, Spain

Added By
Jordan Schultz
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Dawn on Charles V palace in Alhambra, Granada, Spain.   Jebulon / Public Domain
Dawn on Charles V palace in Alhambra, Granada, Spain.   Jebulon / Public Domain
Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra.  
Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra.  
Wine Gate Alhambra   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Overlooking the grounds of the Alhambra   mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
  Michael Reinhardt / Atlas Obscura User
Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra.  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Alhambra, a 14th-century palace and fortress in the hills of Granada, is a must-see during any visit to Southern Spain. But as you pass by the towering watchtowers, soldiers' quarters, and incredible gardens, it's easy to overlook an important architectural detail: Many walls were built (or rebuilt) using Muslim gravestones.

On January 2, 1492, Muhammad XII of Granada surrendered the Emirate of Granada, the city of Granada, and the Alhambra to the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II of Spain. The event marked the end of more than seven centuries of Muslim rule over the Iberian Peninsula and the policy of convivencia, which allowed Muslims, Catholics, and Jews to freely practice their religions.

The new monarchy hoped to religiously unify the country. Immediately after the surrender, Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or be subject to expulsion or slavery. At first, Muslims were protected from forced conversion by the Treaty of Granada, which was signed by both parties just a few months before the surrender.

Even still, the Catholic Monarchs violated the treaty, slowly forcing Muslims to convert in subsequent years and eventually sparking a rebellion in 1499. It was quelled in 1501, when the monarchy officially required forced conversion in the region and seized mosques and Muslim cemeteries for the Spanish kingdom. 

Despite this religious militancy, the Catholic Monarchs sought to occupy the Alhambra, adapting instead of destroying it. They removed many (but not all) statues, coats of arms, and other direct representations of Islam, replacing them with symbols of Christianity and the new regime. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, as well as subsequent Spanish royals, added new palaces, gardens, and military infrastructure within the walls.

Today, the Alhambra serves as a living history lesson, boasting an incredible mix of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish architectural and cultural influences. As you walk through the fortress-palace, you'll notice decayed walls damaged by earthquakes, Napoleon's attacks on Spain, and the passage of time.

If you look a bit closer at some of these decaying walls, you'll see bricks a bit whiter in color than the others with various Arabic writing and Islamic art. In most cases, these are not bricks but rather repurposed gravestones from the cemeteries seized by the monarchy after the Muslim rebellion was defeated in 1501.

Related Tags

Architectural Oddities Palaces Gravestones Fortresses Walls Religion Architecture Sacred Spaces Graves

Know Before You Go

There are various locations throughout the Alhambra where Spanish architects repurposed Muslim gravestones and buildings. Many can be found near the Wine Gate.

Community Contributors

Added By

schultjh

Edited By

vasilisapremudra, mocchiatto, Michael Reinhardt

  • vasilisapremudra
  • mocchiatto
  • Michael Reinhardt

Published

July 18, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.granadahoy.com/granada/Lapidas-levantanedificios_0_719928572.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada_War
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Monarchs
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebeli%C3%B3n_de_las_Alpujarras_(1499-1501)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Granada_(1491)
Muslim Gravestones of the Alhambra
Calle Real de la Alhambra
Granada, 18009
Spain
37.177479, -3.588481
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Palacio de los Olvidados (Palace of the Forgotten)

Granada, Spain

miles away

Casa de los Tiros

Granada, Spain

miles away

Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte

Granada, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Granada

Granada

Spain

Places 5

Nearby Places

Palacio de los Olvidados (Palace of the Forgotten)

Granada, Spain

miles away

Casa de los Tiros

Granada, Spain

miles away

Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte

Granada, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Granada

Granada

Spain

Places 5

Related Places

  • Front view.

    Nafplio, Greece

    Church of Agioi Pantes

    A staircase made of gravestones leads up to this church built into a giant rock.

  • The Roman gravestone mounted in the wall of the church.

    Herrsching am Ammersee, Germany

    Roman Gravestone

    A carved grave marker from the 2nd century is mounted in the alcove wall of this Bavarian church.

  • The altar inside the Church of San Domenico Maggiore.

    Naples, Italy

    Tomb of the First Bishop of New York

    Richard Luke Concanen never set foot on American soil.

  • Drumheller, Alberta

    The Little Church

    A six-person chapel in the middle of Alberta's badlands.

  • Warsaw, Poland

    Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery

    The final resting place of more than 200,000 people, this is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe.

  • Bristol, England

    Hermit's Cave and Quaker Burial Ground

    A medieval cave used to shelter local hermits now holds nearly 200 old Quaker gravestones.

  • The memorial stone and St Margaret’s Church in the background.

    Ratlinghope, England

    Grave of the Last Sin-Eater

    A quiet country churchyard holds a monument to the last known sin-eater in England.

  • The Pink House, circa 1980

    Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

    Martha's Vineyard Gingerbread Houses

    This candy-colored storybook village originated as a 19th-century Methodist campground.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.