A secret oasis hidden in the Alhambra: Dar al-Arusa, the secluded palace of a

Dar al-Arusa, also known as Casa de la desposada in Andalusian Arabic, is the remains of a palatial residence from the Nasrid era, nestled within the Alhambra, in Granada, Spain. It is located on the highest part of the Cerro del Sol, overlooking the Palacio del Generalife and the huertas. Archaeological excavation of the area began in 1924, but the most significant part of the complex was not discovered until 1933. The complex consists of buildings arranged around a rectangular courtyard with a central pool.

The hydraulic system found in the northwest part of the complex once had a water-lifting device and a fountain, near which a marble and glazed ceramic basin was found, now located in the Museum of the Alhambra. Fragments of the floor are still in place, and traces of a wall perimeter and elements associated with a possible defensive wall can be seen. The palace is dated to the 14th century based on Arabic texts that identify and describe it. It was abandoned after the conquest of Granada, as recorded by the historian Francisco Henríquez de Jorquera in 1632.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons