Granada
Notoriously known for being the gateway to the Alhambra, Granada has so much more going for it. Granada (literal translation is pomegranate in English) is located ~100km’s off of the Mediterranean Sea at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in Southern Spain, and eastern Andalucía. Granada is surrounded by mountains and the Darro & Genil rivers which constrained the construction of the medieval city. Granada became home to a significant portion of Muslims due to the Christian conquest, growing the city, creating new areas and pushing the limits of the walls until the conquering at the end of the 15th century.
Not only is the Alhambra here, but also in the same old ‘city’ is the Generalife, Alcazaba & Nazrid Palaces. There is a beautiful Cathedral and Monastery, Gypsy caves nearby in the area of Sacromonte across the hill from the Alhambra, and so much more. In the center of down, the city gets divided into different sections – the Catholic, the Jewish, and the Arabic. They are all within walking distance, and each has their own character and quirks to them. You could spend a whole day just walking between each area checking out the different shops, cafes, and restaurants unique to each. The cities vibrancy is different than the rest of Spain, and it’s much easier to feel than to explain. Granada was one of my favourite stops in Spain, and that says a lot considering it was <10°C, and rainy the entire time I was there!
You can easily fill up 3-4 days in Granada with all of the sights to see, and if you don’t pre-book your Alhambra tickets you’ll need these days to allow flexibility if you plan on visiting, so stay a while and relax in the beautiful city!
Check out the highlights below for more info and pictures.
Alhambra
Given that it’s the most popular attraction – I’ll start with the Alhambra. It is said to be the most iconic of the historical Islamic legacy buildings. The Alhambra has had many uses over the years including a Palatine city, Royal Christian house, and military fortress just to name a few, until 1870 when it was declared a National monument. 6 palaces and 2 towers call the Palatine city ‘home’, and it is the only Palatine City from the Islamic period that has been preserved. Moorish architecture is dominant throughout the ‘city’, and is done on such a grand scale it is captivating to anyone who walks through. Intricate carvings, arch ways, symmetry and tile work give us stark contrasts and give us the ‘wow’ factor throughout.
Equally as impressive as the Palaces themselves are the gardens surrounding them. You will want to plan for ample time to spend here, especially on a beautiful summer day when you can spend some time relaxing in the lush gardens around.
A ticket into the Alhambra will cost you only 15€ and includes entrance to not only the Alhambra, but the Generalife and Alcazaba as well. They are for a set day and time, and the time allotted is entrance into the Alhambra, which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the other entrance gate to be sure to enter early enough. The Generalife is arguably just as nice as the Alhambra, just smaller, so be sure not to miss it! You can either do the Generalife and Alcazaba before or after your allotted time, and I would say the earlier the better to avoid the crowds.
You can (and should) get tickets online once you know when you’ll be heading to Granada. Tickets sell out in the summer time over a month in advance, so to ensure you get a ticket, the sooner you can book, the better! With that said, there is a small ‘loophole’ to this which is how I managed to get tickets as I only plan a few days in advance while travelling. Generally, they release a handful of tickets for the next day or two online. They have limited quantities of these, so you may not get your desired day or time, but it works. The official website to get your tickets is www.alhambra-patronato.es and can give you more information!
Generalife
The Generalife was originally the summer home (Palace, lets be real), of the Nazrid rulers of the Granada Emirate in Al-Andalus (the Iberian territory linked to the Muslims). The palace and the gardens were built between the 12thand 14thcentury, and are now one of the longest surviving Moorish gardens. Featuring a long pool surrounded by flowerbeds and vines, fountains, pavilion and the Sultana’s Garden, not to mention the stunning view of the city with the Alhambra and gardens as a focal point. Originally the two Palaces were joined by a covered walkway across the ravine, but they have since been separated.
A ticket to the Alhambra includes admission to the Generalife, so the cost is the same as noted above.
Granada Cathedral & Monastery
Unlike many of the other Cathedrals in Spain, the Granada Cathedral has a more ‘angelic’ feel to it, likely a token to the colors inside. Many of the cathedrals are much darker inside, where this has the stark contrast of being white. White marble pillars, and gold detailing inside provides a beautiful place of Worship for the Catholic community. It was built over the Nazrid Great Mosque of Granada in the city center, and was constructed in the early 16thcentury shortly after the conquest of Granada by the Catholics. The church has a newer renaissance feel as compared to many gothic styles previously sought after, and has 5 naves instead of the typical 3.
The main chapel is striking; here you will find many columns topped off by the vault and many windows throughout, which allow lots of natural light to flow through.
The San Jeronimo Monastery in Granada was the first built after the conquest of the city by the Christians, and construction began in 1496. The central courtyard is filled with orange trees, surrounded by impressive arches and the tower. A huge highlight here is the sacristy, built in Spanish Baroque style, and holds over 1000 carvings. For only 4€ you can check out the Monastery and its remarkable works inside.
