Granada was originally founded as an Iberian settlement and later occupied by the Romans, but it rose to prominence in 1238, when it became the capital of the Nasrid Kingdom. Which became the last Muslim kingdom in Spain. In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, successfully entered Granada after a peace treaty. This marked the end of Muslim rule in Spain and initiated a new era of Christian influence. Due to the peace treaty between the Catholic Monarchs and the Muslim rulers of the city, Granada hosts some of the best preserved Moorish architecture and cultural sites in the region. This makes it one of Spain's most frequently visited tourist centers and also the seat of an archbishop.
The Alhambra
is a palace and fortress complex started in 1238 by Muhammad I Ibn
al-Ahmar, the first Nasrid emir and founder of the Emirate of Granada.
In 1984, the Alhambra was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Due to the large number of visitors who visit daily, tickets to the site
are limited. As such it is recommended to get tickets weeks in advance.
(The Nasrid Palaces do require a separate-entrance ticket, but the
palaces really showcase the beauty of the Moorish architecture of the
time making it worth the added expense.)
The Carrera del Darro stretches along the bottom of the Alhambra which boasts grand views of its walls and many towers. The street also has many historic buildings along it as well as a picturesque stream. It begins from the palace square and can lead you to Sacromonte, a picturesque neighborhood full of pretty white cave houses.
Tablao Flamenco La Alborea is in the historic center of Granada (Plaza Nueva), which is at the foot of La Alhambra and the Albaicin. Inside La Alborea , every performance includes a guitarist and two dances, one female and one male. Many of these performers belong to the famous families of Sacromonte, an area famous for it’s generations of famous Flamenco performers.
The Royal Chapel of Granada is an Isabelline-style building constructed between 1505 and 1517 and is the burial place of the Spanish monarchs Queen Isabella I, King Ferdinand, Queen Joanna of Castile "the Mad", King Philip I of Castile "the Handsome", and the infante Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal, grandson of the Catholic Monarchs. The most important parts inside the chapel are its main altar and reredos, the wrought-iron rood screen, and the crypt which houses the five lead coffins.
The Albaicin District is located on the Hillside Opposite the Alhambra and was the historic Moorish Quarter of the city. This area has many palaces from the Moorish elite and showcases a wide variety of Islamic influence. The best way to see the Albaicin District is to walk around the area. Please be aware that this neighborhood is on a hillside and is known for its steep traditional stone steps and streets. This can make it difficulte for visitors not use to walking uphill to find the different sites to see. As such, unless you plan on spending a few hours, it is recommended to join a walking tour of the area.
The perfect place to relax after walking around Granada is the Hammam Al Andalus a venue featuring traditional Turkish baths and other spa options. This venue has three spaces created by water pools at different temperatures. Each visitor is free to choose their own route through these spaces while respecting the establishment guidelines in order to enjoy an optimal experience of tradition. Visitors times in the baths are accompanied by Andalusian music, a steam room, relaxation room, and the hot stone room (where they can receive a massage or Ritual of their choice.) This establishment states that their "Clients feel transported in time and allow themselves to be guided on a journey through the exotic sensuality of the mythical Al Andalus."
Corral del Carbón, called al-fundaq al-yadida in Arabic, meaning New Corn Exchange, was constructed in the first half of the 14th century. It functioned as a storehouse and point of sale for wheat, as well as accommodation for the merchants who brought it to Granada. In 1887, it was declared a National Monument, and was miraculously saved from profiteering. Corral del Carbón is accessed by a single door which imitates those of the eastern Iwanes, with a large, acute horseshoe arch of scalloped brick, with arabesque spandrels carved from plaster. Over the door is surah 112 of the Quran “God is one, God is Eternal, He neither begets nor is born, nor to Him is there any equivalent”
The old Jewish quarter of Granada can still be found in parts of the Realejo neighborhood. At its height (during the Nasrid kingdom) the Jewish quarter was home to around 20,000 people, with the vast majority of these people being Jewish. At the end of the 15th century, the Catholic Monarchs decreed an expulsion of all Jewish people from the city and this area was transformed into the Realejo neighborhood. To get the most of this area it is recommended to do a walking tour of the area.
The Alcaicería market is Granada's Big Bazaar and the original Moorish silk market. Originally, the market consisted of a range of streets between the Plaza Nueva and Plaza Bib-Rambla. Which was filled with Arab silk stalls, spices, traditionally painted ceramics, inlaid wood, stained glass lamps, and other valuable goods. Nowadays, the only remaining part of the Alcaicería market is the Calle Alcaicería known to be a tourist place filled with narrow streets that mainly host small souvenir and fabric shops.
If you have had enought of walking you can purchase and use Granada's unique trasportation service. Unlike other Europen cities, Granada has a motorized train built specially for taking you through the narrow streets of this city. Visitors can do the city tour in a single trip or hop on and off as many times as they wish to explore the city on their own.