Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/549

Rh Bk. I. Ch. III. SPAIN. 533 upon the bearings of the different courts and buildings as given in the plans hitherto published. The principal entrance to the Alhambra seems always to have been at the southern end of the Court of the Alberca. This part does seem to have been altered or pulled down to make way for the palace of Charles V. The court was originally called, apparently from the pool of water which always occupied its centre, El Birkeli. It is 138 ft. long by 74 wide, the longer sides being singularly, and in such a place ungracefully, plain. The end to the south terminates with a double arcade of very beautiful design ; and that to the north with a similar one, but only one story in height, crowned by the tower enclosing the great Hall of the Ambassadors (c), to which the Court is practically an ante-room. This is an apartment 35 ft.