The Partal Palace was constructed by the Nasrid ruler Muhammad III, who reigned over the Emirate of Granada, the last Muslim state in Al-Andalus, from 1302 to 1309. This places the Partal Palace as the oldest remaining palace in the Alhambra today, marking it as the first of several palatial structures built along the northern perimeter of the Alhambra. Another palace, known as the Palacio del Partal Alto, once stood to the south in an area now occupied by gardens. Although traditionally attributed to Yusuf III (r. 1408–1417), it is more likely that Muhammad III’s predecessor, Muhammad II (r. 1273–1302), was responsible for its construction. Between the Palacio del Partal Alto and the outer Alhambra walls lay a large garden, Riyad as-Sayyid ("Garden of the Sayyid"), which may have extended from the Comares Palace in the west to the Torre de las Infantas in the east. It was within this garden that Muhammad III built the Partal Palace. He repurposed a former fortification tower, transforming it into a mirador (lookout chamber) that became integrated into a decorated building.

The Partal Palace is one of the most altered structures in the Alhambra since the Nasrid period. Unlike the neighboring Comares Palace and the Palace of the Lions, which continued to be used by Spanish monarchs after the conquest of 1492, the Partal Palace passed into private hands and was remodeled into a residence by its new owners. It was not until 1891 that the palace was ceded to the Spanish government and incorporated into the Alhambra's broader historical site. Throughout the 20th century, the palace underwent multiple restorations, overseen by archaeologists and architects responsible for the Alhambra’s preservation.

Notably, two large 14th-century marble lions, originally from the now-demolished Maristan in the Albaicín, were moved to the Partal Palace before being removed in the 1890s for restoration and preservation. They are now housed in the Alhambra Museum. Between 1923 and 1924, archaeologist Leopoldo Torres Balbás restored and partly rebuilt the portico façade, unveiling and reconstituting the sebka stucco decoration above the arches. In 1965, architect Francisco Prieto Moreno replaced the original brick pillars of the portico with slender marble columns in the Nasrid style.

circa 1305 CE

Palace of the Portico and the Ladies' Tower
The Palace of the Portico is still only partly preserved, with only the tower and portico on its north side remaining, originally part of an enclosed rectangular courtyard rather than the open garden it appears as today. It demonstrated the typical layout which was repeated in other palaces nearby: a courtyard centered on a large reflective pool with porticoes at either end and a mirador (lookout) tower at one end which looked down on the city from the edge of the palace walls.

Both the arched façade of the external portico and the interior walls are carved or covered with intricate stucco decoration from the time of Muhammad III. Much of this decoration was originally painted with colours, though much of this has faded over time.

circa 1305 CE

Oratory of the Partal Palace
The so-called "oratory of the Partal Palace" is a Nasrid era prayer room, situated south-east of the main "portico palace" in the el-Partal Palace complex. It was built over the remains of a previous fortification tower. It served as a private prayer chamber for the noble or the sultan residing in the adjacent palace. It may have been the mosque or prayer chamber of the ladies of the Partal Palace. The interior of the small prayer chamber is intricately decorated with pattern and calligraphic motifs. Though smaller in size, the interior intimately resembles the prayer chamber (oratory) adjacent to the Mexuar, situated to the west.

circa 1305 CE

Nasrid Period Houses
On the western side of the "Portico Palace" are four 14th-century Nasrid-era houses, which lack internal courtyards. These houses are currently identified as the González Pareja House, the Villoslada House, the House of the Balconies, and the House of the Paintings. Although their architectural design is modest compared to other structures of the period, they retain some carved stucco decoration. Notably, they are significant for the remnants of painted decoration, which may represent the only surviving examples of Nasrid-era mural artwork. In contrast, the painted ceilings in the Hall of Kings in the Palace of the Lions are believed to have been executed by Christian artisans. Discovered in 1907, the murals depict scenes of horsemen, tents, musicians, servants, and women of the Nasrid court, offering valuable insight into the courtly life of the period.

circa 1910-1925 CE

Gardens of the Partal Palace
The expansive Partal Gardens (Jardines del Partal) extend across the area south of the Partal Palace and its reflecting pool, offering a striking contrast between modern landscaping and the ancient architectural landscape of the Alhambra. Although the gardens were designed in the early 20th century, specifically during the 1910s and 1920s under the guidance of Francisco Gómez-Moreno, with further landscaping developments in the 1930s, they bear little connection to the original Nasrid-period elements of the Alhambra. The current layout and plantings, while evocative of classical garden design, are largely a product of modern intervention aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the site and improving accessibility. This landscaping effort also provided an opportunity for additional archaeological excavations, which helped to uncover and preserve the remnants of earlier structures.

Among the most significant archaeological discoveries within the gardens are the remains of foundations belonging to various houses and urban structures, some of which date back to the Nasrid era. These remnants, scattered throughout the gardens, offer valuable insight into the urban development and domestic life of the period. Of particular note is a set of ruins located on the upper terrace of the gardens, which are identified as belonging to the Upper Partal Palace (Palacio del Partal Alto). This palace, likely part of the broader Partal complex, provides important clues about the residential and architectural functions of the area during the Nasrid dynasty. Despite the modern transformations of the Partal Gardens, these ongoing archaeological investigations continue to contribute significantly to our understanding of the Alhambra's layered history, revealing connections between its various phases of construction and use.