Hydraulics of the Alhambra: How Water Works

Water is the Alhambra’s quiet engineer: comfort, cleanliness, and choreography.

Source and Intake

• Acequia Real: diverted from the Darro (upper Genil system) with a gentle slope.
• Primary tasks: decantation to drop silt; screens to stop debris before palaces.

Elevation and Gradient

• Sabika hill elevation demands careful head (pressure) management.
• Rule of thumb: slow, laminar flow for reflection; slight drops for sound.

Distribution Network

• Trunk channels feed cisterns; branches serve Comares, Lions, and the Generalife.
• Overflow logic: when one court is “full,” water cascades to gardens below.

Hydraulic Effects in the Courts

• Comares pool: still mirror; inlet and outlet hidden to suppress ripples.
• Lions fountain: central bowl with twelve spouts; four rills set cardinal axes.
• Generalife: Water Stair—runnels in the handrails cool and mask footsteps.

Maintenance (Nasrid to Now)

• Sluice cleaning, lime scale scraping, seasonal flow tuning.
• Today: non‑invasive monitoring; biofilm control; reversible repairs.

Climate and Sound

• Evaporative cooling under shade lowers perceived temperature.
• White noise from rills creates privacy and slows visitor pace.

What to Notice as You Walk

• Slight level changes at thresholds; stone lips that meter flow; overflow weirs.
• Algae patterns reveal wet/dry cycles; listen for pitch changes near drops.

Bottom Line

Hydraulics make paradise plausible—and legible—on a hot Andalusian hill.