This is one of the larger halls within the Nasrid palaces in the Alhambra complex. The 30m long hall was used for receptions and celebrations and is surrounded by a series of five private chambers. Straight away, you notice that the decoration and artwork is completely different to everywhere else. Large leather canvases are stretched across the ceiling vaults and are painted with detailed scenes of medieval court life. Men and women are playing chess, jousting and hunting. These paintings have confused scholars for centuries. Islamic art was forbidden from representing god, people or animals so you don't see scenes like this elsewhere in the palaces and no-one is quite sure how to explain these ones. Most mysterious is the middle scene that seems to show 10 Nazrid kings seated in council. Were they kings or dignitaries? Ambassadors? Emirs? Writers? There are conflicting ideas about how and why they came to be here. Some see it as evidence of a lot more Muslim/Christian co-operation and co-existence than is normally thought. Mysteries aside, these panels were like something out of a storybook. There is a classic knight on a white horse and a Rapunzel-like woman in a tower. Other figures are playing chess surrounded by trees and birds. The images are beautifully clear and vivid and the colours, esp the gold and red, were very fresh. This is thanks to a 10 year restoration programme, which was only finished in 2016.

The fascinating "Sala de los Reyes" (Hall of the Kings) has amazing, opulent, detailed architecture, especially the ceilings. It takes your breath away.