The Gate of Justice, Granada, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia) is the grand horseshoe-arched gateway into the Alhambra, the hilltop palace-fortress of Granada, Spain. Built in 1348 under the Nasrid ruler Yusuf I, it is one of the best-known sights of the Alhambra and carries a carved hand and key that have inspired legends for centuries.

The story behind it

The gate was raised in the mid-14th century as a defensive entrance to the Alhambra's walled hill, in the years when the Nasrid dynasty ruled Granada. Its tall tower and the sharp turns of the passage inside were designed so that anyone forcing their way in would have to slow down and change direction under the eyes of the guards. The name is often linked to the tradition of judgments being given at the city gates.

The best-known legend concerns the two symbols carved on the arches. A hand is cut into the outer arch and a key into the inner one. Folk tradition says the Alhambra will only fall when the hand reaches the key. The hand is commonly read as a protection against the evil eye, though interpretations differ, and the key is usually taken as a sign of authority over the fortress. After the Catholic Monarchs took Granada in 1492, a Christian image of the Virgin and Child was placed inside the gateway, so the passage now holds both traditions.

What to look for

• The huge horseshoe arch of the gate, whose scale and clean lines make it clear this was a place of power as well as defence.
• The carved hand on the outer arch, and the carved key on the inner arch, the two symbols at the heart of the local legend.
• The bent passage inside the tower, which turns sharply and shows how the entrance was built to slow down attackers.
• The Christian shrine with the Virgin and Child inside the gateway, a reminder of how Granada changed hands in 1492.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the gate itself, longer if you are walking on to the rest of the Alhambra grounds.
• Morning or late afternoon light is softer on the stonework, and the paths up the hill are usually calmer outside the middle of the day.
• The Alhambra has timed entry for its main sites, so check current opening hours and access rules before you plan your day.
• The Pomegranate Gate and the palace of Charles V are close by, which makes it easy to continue exploring on foot.

See it on a quest

You can reach the gate on foot as one stop on Medieval Granada: Secrets of Dynasties and Royals, a self-guided route that follows the medieval theme of the city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the carvings and the walls far more closely than you would on a quick visit. There is no guide to follow and no group to join: you start when you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.