We walked up the bell tower at Iglesia de San Nicolás for some of the best views of Granada and the Alhambra.

Inside, the church has a glowing stained-glass ceiling that radiates with celestial color. The iconographic paintings echo Ethiopian Christian tradition with saints, symbols, and stories.

Two smiling people posing between whitewashed walls with a stunning panoramic view of the Alhambra in the background, perched on a lush hill above the city of Granada. The late afternoon sunlight casts a golden hue over the fortress and surrounding town, while mountains stretch along the horizon.Close-up view of the Alhambra’s reddish stone walls and towers, surrounded by dense greenery. The mountains in the distance and the clear blue sky enhance the dramatic setting of the historic Moorish palace and fortress.Interior of a chapel with a vivid, modern stained-glass ceiling in swirling colors, set above ribbed Gothic-style arches. Below, religious artwork and sculptures are displayed near an altar, blending traditional and contemporary elements.Upward view of a tall white bell tower with small arched openings, capped by a red-tiled roof. The clean lines and bright stucco façade contrast sharply against the deep blue sky.Vibrant religious mural depicting saints and holy figures in stylized, symmetrical arrangements. Rich gold and red tones, along with intricate patterns, highlight the iconographic Ethiopian Christian art style.Religious mural showing a group of saints and apostles surrounding the Virgin Mary, with flames of Pentecost above their heads and a white dove at the top symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Bold lines and bright, flat colors define the stylized iconography.Detailed view of a vivid stained-glass dome ceiling, composed of triangular panels radiating from a central point. The abstract artwork features a mix of bright blues, purples, and reds, creating a celestial effect against the Gothic architecture.Wide shot of the Alhambra complex on a wooded hill, with its full array of palaces, towers, and defensive walls clearly visible. The foreground includes white buildings and cypress trees of the Albaicín neighborhood, with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.Bell tower made of pale brick and stone, viewed from a low angle against a clear sky. The red-tiled roof and architectural details highlight the Moorish and Andalusian influences typical of the area.Close-up of a white brick bell tower with a pair of arched openings near the top and Arabic calligraphy-style ornamentation just below the roof. The warm evening light accentuates the texture of the walls and wooden roof beams.

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At the base of the church is the Mirador de San Nicolás, a plaza which is a beautiful viewpoint for seeing the Alhambra.

We didn’t stick around long enough for the actual sunset but still caught some great views. I would love to come again at sunset, or even dawn. 🌅

The Alhambra illuminated at dusk, with golden light highlighting the reddish stone walls and towers against a deepening blue sky. Cypress trees line the outer perimeter of the fortress, and the silhouettes of distant mountains frame the background.Wide view of the Alhambra in early evening light, perched above the Albaicín neighborhood of Granada. The terracotta roofs of whitewashed houses spread out in the foreground, with the fortress standing prominently above dense green vegetation and backed by distant mountains.Panoramic view of the Alhambra at sunset, bathed in warm light and framed by surrounding trees. A rooftop terrace with patrons is visible in the foreground, and the city of Granada extends into the distance under a soft, pale sky.Evening view of the Alhambra fully illuminated, stretching across the hilltop with golden floodlights emphasizing its towers and walls. Snow-capped mountains are faintly visible in the background, and the rooftops of the Albaicín appear in the foreground below.Panoramic twilight view of the Alhambra glowing under floodlights, with towers and walls sharply defined against a darkening sky. The rooftops of the Albaicín and several terrace structures are visible in the foreground, adding a sense of depth and scale.Narrow alleyway leading downhill with the Alhambra visible in the distance, softly lit against the night sky. A wall-mounted light casts a glow on the whitewashed buildings, and a utility pole covered in stickers is in sharp focus beside a wall with handwritten graffiti in Spanish.Framed nighttime view of the Alhambra glowing in the distance, seen between traditional Andalusian buildings with tile roofs and wooden balconies. Warm street lighting and the deep blue sky create a peaceful, atmospheric scene.

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We didn’t get tickets to go inside the Alhambra itself, but we did the Jardines y Generalife night visit and got to walk through the gardens and see the Alhambra again. The intricate Nasrid Islamic stucco and architecture was beautiful.

Not pictured: the strong scent of jasmine.

The Nasrid-era fortress walls and towers of the Alcazaba at the Alhambra glow with golden lighting at dusk, framed by manicured hedges and tall cypress trees under a clear evening sky.View of the Torre de la Vela at the Alhambra lit against a deep blue twilight sky, with the illuminated Albaicín neighborhood sprawling across the valley in the background under dramatic clouds.Night view of the Church of Santa María de la Alhambra, its richly textured brickwork and Renaissance details highlighted by exterior lighting, with cypress trees and nearby structures in shadow.Panoramic nighttime view of the Alhambra complex from a distance, with its illuminated towers and walls—including the Torre de Comares and Torre de la Vela—rising above treetops, and the lights of Granada city twinkling in the background.The Generalife’s Patio de la Acequia at night, with a central water channel bordered by arching fountains and symmetrical garden beds, leading toward a colonnaded hall adorned with intricate stucco work.Detailed view of ornate stucco and calligraphic inscriptions in Arabic from a wall and archway inside the Nasrid Palaces, showcasing the fine craftsmanship of Islamic architecture at the Alhambra.A rose-covered archway in the Generalife gardens at night, with clusters of coral-pink blooms climbing a metal trellis over a pebbled path, surrounded by rows of trimmed hedges and dark cypress trees.A quiet courtyard near the Generalife, with a small circular stone fountain in the foreground and a softly lit staircase leading to a doorway where a group of visitors stands under a warm light.Close-up of a wall covered in blooming jasmine, with dozens of star-shaped white flowers and dense green leaves brightly illuminated against the night.Nighttime view of the Alhambra complex from a distance, with its iconic towers and palace structures—such as the Alcazaba and Palacio de Carlos V—bathed in golden light against the dark hillside.

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