If one were to choose to live in Europe in the Dark Ages it would be in Muslim Spain with its gardens, running water, Turkish baths, street lights and many other items that the rest of Europe would only get 400 years later.
One of the highlights and a tourist spot, is the Alhambra (Red Castle, Al Hamra). It is a richly decorated fortress built from 1338-1390 CE and the most beautiful of all Muslim buildings in Spain in Granada. It had 23 towers, 4 gates, a Musjid, gardens, prisons, 7 Palaces the Royal Mint, a bath and court complexes. The building was started by Muhammad Ibn Al Ahmar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty and was continued by his successors.
The Alhambra attracts millions of visitors annually. It has courtyards, columns, arches and fountains. It became a Christian court in 1492 when Christians conquered Granada. Various structures were built like a church and monastery. During the 18th and 19th century, the Alhambra fell into neglect and was converted into taverns, occupied by thieves and beggars. Napoleon's troops, masters of Granada from 1808 till 1812, converted the palaces into barracks. During a retreat they mined the towers and blew up part of them. In 1870 the Alhambra was declared a national monument and is now a museum exhibiting Islamic architecture.
All in all, the Alhambra is a reminder of past Muslim grandeur and among the best architecture in the world.
The Alhambra
