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The romans initially built a fortress on that mountain spot around 889 AD but was left to abandonement. The spectacular Moorish-islamic palace was then built, on top of those roman ruins, during the Moorish occupation of Spain. Later, some Renaissance-style structures were added to make the site a royal court for Queen Isabella and Kind Ferdinand II when Christians re-conquered Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The palace's stunning beauty is a reminder that while Christian Europe stumbled through the Dark Ages, the Moors of Andalusia reached unrivaled pinnacles of beauty and culture.