The Alhambra to begin restoration of the decorative elements in the Court of the Lions

The Alhambra Board of Trustees has taken the final step towards launching the restoration works on the decorative elements of the Court of the Lions.

The contract has now been signed, with a budget exceeding one million euros. This intervention will play a key role in ensuring the long-term preservation of one of the most iconic spaces within the Nasrid monument.

The restoration project is expected to last 27 months. Throughout this period, the usual public visits to the Court of the Lions will continue without disruption.

In recent years, several conservation projects have been carried out on the hydraulic system, the roofs and various structural elements. The famous marble lions and the courtyard's paving were also comprehensively restored. The next phase will now focus on the decorative features.

The project includes the restoration of the 117 free-standing marble columns located along the outer side of the gallery. It also covers six free-standing columns and six engaged columns in the arcade leading to the Hall of the Kings, as well as six additional engaged columns on the inner side of the gallery. The flooring between the columns will also undergo restoration.

Each column will be restored, including its base, shaft and capital. In addition, seven exterior columns that were restored in 2017 will be inspected to ensure a consistent finish throughout the entire architectural ensemble.

The work will also include the wooden frieze of the galleries and the eastern and western pavilions. Restoration work carried out on these elements in 2016 and 2020 will be reviewed. Likewise, the exterior plasterwork of the galleries, the intrados of the arches and the plaster decorations of the pavilions, both on their exterior façades and interior surfaces, will be restored.

The aim of this intervention is to consolidate the original materials, carry out specialised cleaning work, reintegrate any missing elements where necessary and recover the monument's original finishes. All restoration work will be undertaken with the utmost historical and conservation standards.