La Alhambra, pionera en la organización de una visita multisensorialsimultánea a la exposición de “Los Tendilla”

The Alhambra is working hard to become more accessible. This afternoon for the first time the Monument staged a simultaneous multi-sensory visit to the exhibition The Tendillas. Lords of the Alhambra, on display in the Chapel and Crypt of the Palace of Charles V. 20 people with different disabilities took part in this experience, which puts the Alhambra at the vanguard of this type of adapted visits, with which it aims to show that “inclusion is possible”.
Organized by the Council of the Alhambra in collaboration with La Ciudad Accesible (the Accessible City), Kaleidoscope Access and Lapislázuli, the trip was “a dream come true” for each and every member of the group, as they said themselves at the end of the visit, which lasted approximately 2 hours. During this time, the visitors discovered the Alhambra from the Renaissance to the 18th century and found out more about life during that period through the 200 pieces that make up the exhibition. These include a portrait of Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, an ambassador and writer, which is attributed to Titian and was loaned for the exhibition by the Galería Palatina of the Palazzo Pitti in Florence (Italy).
Antonio Tejada, the manager of La Ciudad Accesible, the most important organization on today’s visit (which will be enjoyed by a further 30 associations of disabled people in Granada), explained that the inclusive visit consists of six simultaneous adaptations to the needs of the different disabilities of the visitors. These include a sign language interpreter for deaf people with audiphones with a portable magnetic loop to listen to the explanations of the guide; special audio descriptions of the different exhibits for blind people together with diagrams, replicas and tactile exhibits; and specially adapted contents and language for people with intellectual disabilities. The visit was also attended by members of La Ciudad Accesible with mental illness and physical disability and by able-bodied people, so as to emphasize the concept of social inclusion.
More inclusive visits to the “The Tendillas – Lords of the Alhambra” exhibition are planned, thanks to a collaboration agreement between the Council of the Alhambra and Generalife, the ONCE foundation and Kaleidoscope Access, with the support of La Ciudad Accesible. To this end, a series of free guided tours have been organized in April and May for people with different disabilities, and specifically for groups with visual, hearing and intellectual and cognitive disabilities. So far almost 400 disabled people from Granada and its Province have signed up to take part in these visits. Those interested should enquire by e-mail to info@kaleidoscope-access.org.
The Alhambra is holding this exhibition to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Íñigo López de Mendoza (1440-1515), Count Tendilla. Appointed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as the Governor of the Alhambra, the “Great Tendilla” made sure that the wonderful buildings left behind by the Sultans of Granada were preserved. He also actively encouraged a policy of understanding and engagement with the Morisco and Jewish populations.