Granada Mini Guide
Granada in Spain is a tourist resort and city about 195 km (120 miles) north east of
Gibraltar.
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Spain and built on a series of sprawling hills, Granada has a distinctly Arabic feel to it following its rule by Muslim leaders in the 8th century. The surrounding mountains make this city intensely hot during the summer, but thankfully the problem is an age old one and many tea houses were built in the city to shelter visitors and let them cool off.
There are stunning views everywhere you go in Granada, none better than in the Moorish quarter of the Albacin at night. There, if you make your way to the Plaza de San Nicholas, you will see one of the great sights in Europe, the Alhambra lit up at night. Alhambra means ‘red fortress’ and it is a series of palaces constructed on a hill which overlooks Granada. The Alhambra is set in a garden of biblical beauty containing roses, orange trees and English elms and many tourists now visit it to see one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world.
There are also many fine examples of Christian architecture in the city, such as Royal Chapel where the Spanish king and queen Ferdinand and Isabella were buried. Adding to the mystery and charm of this great city is a large community of Gypsies who live in Sacromonte Hill. In the centre of Granada there is a park which has been dedicated to one of its most famous residents - the poet Frederico Garcia Lorca who wrote influential work about the Spanish Civil War before he was murdered at the hands of the fascists. The park is an oasis of tranquility and full of beautiful flowers and plants.
Eating out in Granada there are a number of buzzing tapas bars where you can play pool and sink a few beers while sampling a large choice of dishes. Finding where to stay is not difficult, there are two, three, four and five star hotels in the city as well as hostels for the budget traveller.
After eating out you may want to consider learning some flamenco. There are many clubs found along the Camino del Sacromonte road and all are friendly and welcoming, if a little intense!
Once you have flown into Granada Airport, which does national and international flights, car hire is a good idea. The city does have a bus system but if you want to escape the heat and the dust it is better to have your own transport. Then you can take trips to the beach, go skiing in the mountains or even spend the night sleeping in a cave house!