Granada

Granada is well served by transport links, lying at a meeting point of two motorways, and also benefits from an airport as well as a train and bus station. Granada must surely embody all the elements of what the outsider thinks of as being the typical and traditional Spanish city, and is the city to see if you only have time to visit one! Set in the autonomous region of Andalusia, home of flamenco and those endlessly hot, Spanish summers, Granada nestles in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is of course dominated by the world famous Alhambra Palace. Rich in history from its Moorish past, Granada was the last outpost of Moorish influence and rule in Spain in the face of the Christian re-conquest of Spain, finally capitulating in 1492. The present day city has a population of some 240,000 people, increasing to nearly 500,000 in the whole greater urban area.

Granada is a city bursting with culture and sights to see, with many palaces, churches and historic buildings to enthral the visitor. The beautiful cathedral is spectacular in its architecture, size and design, taking nearly two centuries to complete, and is a must-see for any visitor to the city. However, absolutely no trip to Granada could be made without seeing the world-famous Alhambra. This is not a single fortified palace building, but an assembly of buildings constructed over a period of time, mainly in the 14th century by the last vestiges of Moorish rulers in Spain, but with the addition of the Palace of Charles V, built by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1527 within the earlier fortifications. Breathtaking in its scale and beauty, the Alhambra has wonderfully decorated interiors as well as stunning gardens with pools, fountains and running water, and is now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Apart from the Alhambra, there is so much else to see in Granada. The Generalife is the summer palace of the sultans and is a beautiful building with gardens, walkways and shaded patio areas. Areas of the city to see include the Albaicín, the largest and most characteristic Moorish barrio still surviving in Spain, and Sacromonte, the old gypsy cave-quarter of the city, whose church of San Nicolás is said to provide the best view of the Alhambra from its square.

Granada is also a university city, so there is plenty of lively nightlife for the visitor to enjoy, centred around the areas near the university itself. There are many bars, pubs, restaurants and disco-pubs to choose from, so whatever your reason for visiting Granada, you will not be short of entertainment to fill the evenings after a day’s sightseeing…

FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Granada – the best of Spain - details of why Granada is so special and what it has to offer.

The Alhambra and the Moors in Spain - a ‘must-see’ palace of world importance