Jardines Bajos

Gardens in Granada

CC BY-SA 2.0 / El Pantera

The Jardines Bajos or Lower Gardens are gardens in the Generalife in the Alhambra Complex, in Granada, Spain. They are also called the Jardines Nuevos or New Gardens.

What do the Jardines Bajos look like?

There are three distinct areas which together form a stunning garden full of hedges, paths, patios, pools, fountains and views overlooking the Alhambra and the Albaicín.

Teatro del Generalife at the Jardines Bajos

The first you pass is the Teatro del Generalife was built for the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance Finally, in 1952, and which as been held there ever since.

Muslim Style Garden of the Jardines Bajos

The next was completed in 1951 in accordance with the architect Prieto Moreno’s design for a Muslim-style garden. It has 4 ponds whose center is the Carmen, a sedate fountain guarded by 4 tall cypress trees. To its west with its views over Alhambra and the city are a pergola and cypress lined walls. As this is the nearest gardens to the theater they are sometimes called the Jardines del Teatro or Gardens of the Theater.

Labyrinth Garden of the Jardines Bajos

The lastly is the section laid out in 1931 of four green boxes with archways which resemble a labyrinth garden, with arched rose gardens and cypress trees. Its cypress walls that create small rooms among which it is easy to get lost. It was originally planted with 66 orange trees, 600 onion gladioli, 88 myrtles, 48 dahlias, 300 cypresses, 500 low roses and 100 climbing roses. It is paved in traditional Granadian style with a mosaic of pebbles: white ones from the River Darro and black ones from the River Genil.

History of the Jardines Bajos

In 1921 the Generalife was acquired by the State and they wished to create a public park which joined the Alhambra and the Palacio del Generalife‎. This area was tuned into landscaped gardens.

Where are the Jardines Bajos located?

The gardens are sandwiched between the Paseo de los Nogales to its south west and the Paseo de los Cipreses and Paseo de las Adelfas to its north east.

Names of the Jardines Bajos

The Jardines Bajos or Lower Gardens were named to distinguish them from the Jardines Altos or Upper Gardens, which are higher up the hill. They were called also the Jardines Nuevos or New Gardens as they were built in the early part of the twentieth century. Other names include Rosaleda de Torres Balbás or Rose Gardens of Torres Balbás who architect who designed the Rose Gardens and the Jardín del Laberinto or Gardens of the Labyrinth.

The Jardines Bajos appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Granada!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!