Spain: Granada
After spending 9 months abroad last academic year, which is the most I've spent away from home consecutively, I decided that my summer holidays should remain local (even though I did go abroad for a couple weeks in August! You can't just ignore the travelling bug...).
I travelled all throughout Spain and also to the Canary Islands, to places I had either never been or where I had last been when I was three years old. This resulted in me appreciating my country more than ever before, and it inspired me to share some of the less touristy places in Spain here in the blog.
And so as not to produce a very photograph-heavy post, I will dedicate an entry to each one or two cities. Maybe this will help dispel the ever-present myth that Spain is a prime beach and party location (which it is!), and shine a light on the more historical aspects of the country.
After this introduction, here is today's city!
Granada (Andalucía, Southern Spain): La Alhambra and El Albaicín
When people visit Granada, it's mostly its Moorish past they're after. After the Christians reconquered Spain, for a while Granada was the sole Muslim kingdom remaining, and its demise happened in 1492. However, for the previous seven centuries, this part of Spain was under Islamic rule, and this has left beautiful monuments such as the Alhambra.
This monument, listed under the World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO, began to be built in 1234. Taken from Granada's tourist website:
I travelled all throughout Spain and also to the Canary Islands, to places I had either never been or where I had last been when I was three years old. This resulted in me appreciating my country more than ever before, and it inspired me to share some of the less touristy places in Spain here in the blog.
And so as not to produce a very photograph-heavy post, I will dedicate an entry to each one or two cities. Maybe this will help dispel the ever-present myth that Spain is a prime beach and party location (which it is!), and shine a light on the more historical aspects of the country.
After this introduction, here is today's city!
Granada (Andalucía, Southern Spain): La Alhambra and El Albaicín
When people visit Granada, it's mostly its Moorish past they're after. After the Christians reconquered Spain, for a while Granada was the sole Muslim kingdom remaining, and its demise happened in 1492. However, for the previous seven centuries, this part of Spain was under Islamic rule, and this has left beautiful monuments such as the Alhambra.
This monument, listed under the World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO, began to be built in 1234. Taken from Granada's tourist website:
"The Alhambra was a palace, a citadel, fortress, and the home of the Nasrid sultans, high government officials, servants of the court and elite soldiers (from the 13th to the 14th century). Today, the monument is divided into four main areas: the Palaces, the military zone or Alcazaba, the city or Medina and the agricultural estate of the Generalife. All of these areas are surrounded by woods, gardens and orchards."
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| Patio de los Leones |
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| Generalife gardens |
There are many more sights to see in Granada though, as is the "Albaicín" district, an extremely charming part of the city with narrow cobbled streets and white walls everywhere.
There is also a very important cathedral as it is where the remains of the Catholic Monarchs lie: these were very influential rulers in Spanish history.
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| Granada Cathedral |
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| Plaza Nueva (literally: New Square) |
I hope you enjoyed this short summary of the most typical sights in Granada!
Esther
Spanish Ambassador
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