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| Granada |
Granada, The Alhambra Palace and Beyond
By Edward Kirwan
Granada, in the east of Andalucía, is a city steeped in Moorish tradition. The
Alhambra Palace which was recently short listed as a Seventh Wonder of
the New World, is truly wondrous but there is so much more to see and do.
The last stronghold of the Arabic/Moorish kings, Granada has retained and
celebrates much of its ancient history. A bustling city, it happily combines the
old with the new. It can be enjoyed largely on foot using the Gran Via as
your central point. Stroll in the tranquil Gardens of Triunfo, gaze at the
Hospital Real and the Carthusian Monastery. Take in the glorious Gothic style
Royal Chapel and renaissance Cathedral where Isabel and Ferdinand are
entombed. You will be sure to find an eatery to your liking among the many
atmospheric restaurants, cafes and bars. Happily, unlike much of modern
Spain, Granada’s bars still offer generous free tapas.
The old Moorish Quarter, the Albaycin, offers narrow shaded streets and is
an ideal maze to explore. From the Plaza Larga you can take a stroll along
the walls of the Alcazaba de Cadima to the main ancient gateway, the
Puerta de Elvira. From Saint Cristobel Mirador de San Nicholas you can gaze
upon the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada beyond.
The Alhambra Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marks the
beginning of the Nasrid Dynasty, under Mohammed Ibn Alhamar in the 11th
Century. It graciously overlooks the city of Granada and the vast
surrounding lands. This great fortress-cum-palace is easily accessible by car,
bus or for the stouter among us, on foot. No visit to Granada is complete
without experiencing the magnificent Royal Palace and the Genaralife's well
kept gardens.
Granada also acts as a centre for visiting the Sierra Nevada some 75km
distant. The area offers full winter sports facilities, walking tours, cycling,
horse trekking and many more activities besides. This is truly an
adventurer's paradise. The ancient whitewashed villages of the
Alpujarras, famed for the Lanjaron water and more recently, Chris Stewart’s
book "Driving over Lemons”, lie to the southeast. Among these, Trevelez
lays claim to being the highest village in all of Spain.
From Granada it is possible from the Sierra Nevada to ski in the morning and
swim in the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon. If this is for you, head
south to the lesser known Costa Tropical, an hour's drive away. It has quiet
sandy coves and beaches stretched along the craggy coastline between the
Almeria and Malaga provincial borders. Many of these beaches are barely
accessible by car but well worth the effort of reaching them. Among these
are large, dedicated naturist’s areas.
For those that like to take things a little easier, La Herradura (meaning
"horseshoe"), Almuncecar, with all popular facilities, Salobrena, with its
castle and Motril for its easy yet working town demeanor are all worth
visiting.(forget visiting the port). For sailors and scuba-divers the well
maintained and expanding Marina del Este (between Almunecar and La
Herradura) provides excellent facilities in a secluded and tranquil setting.
Venturing away from the Mediterranean and to the east of Granada City, lies
the intriguing troglodyte town of Gaudix. Having sandstone as a natural
resource, half the town's population live in cave-houses. And yes, you can
stay there. To the northwest lies the old fortified town of Moclin with its
magnificent views, one of the last Moorish strongholds before Granada fell to
the Christians in 1495. Further afield, to the southeast you can enjoy the
relaxing spas of Alhama de Granada.
Granada is easily accessible by flight from its newly upgraded international
airport with the tongue-tying name of Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén
Airport, 17km to the west of the city.
The modern road infrastructure allows easy access to your destination by car
or bus; sorry, no trains. Taxis are pretty cheap, the trip into the city centre
costs about €17, the Alhambra €25, and a trip to the Sierra Nevada
Mountains will cost you around €65. For fuller information a travel guide
book is always useful. Granada both ancient and modern is there to be
enjoyed.
By Edward Kirwan
Granada, in the east of Andalucía, is a city steeped in Moorish tradition. The
Alhambra Palace which was recently short listed as a Seventh Wonder of
the New World, is truly wondrous but there is so much more to see and do.
The last stronghold of the Arabic/Moorish kings, Granada has retained and
celebrates much of its ancient history. A bustling city, it happily combines the
old with the new. It can be enjoyed largely on foot using the Gran Via as
your central point. Stroll in the tranquil Gardens of Triunfo, gaze at the
Hospital Real and the Carthusian Monastery. Take in the glorious Gothic style
Royal Chapel and renaissance Cathedral where Isabel and Ferdinand are
entombed. You will be sure to find an eatery to your liking among the many
atmospheric restaurants, cafes and bars. Happily, unlike much of modern
Spain, Granada’s bars still offer generous free tapas.
The old Moorish Quarter, the Albaycin, offers narrow shaded streets and is
an ideal maze to explore. From the Plaza Larga you can take a stroll along
the walls of the Alcazaba de Cadima to the main ancient gateway, the
Puerta de Elvira. From Saint Cristobel Mirador de San Nicholas you can gaze
upon the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada beyond.
The Alhambra Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marks the
beginning of the Nasrid Dynasty, under Mohammed Ibn Alhamar in the 11th
Century. It graciously overlooks the city of Granada and the vast
surrounding lands. This great fortress-cum-palace is easily accessible by car,
bus or for the stouter among us, on foot. No visit to Granada is complete
without experiencing the magnificent Royal Palace and the Genaralife's well
kept gardens.
Granada also acts as a centre for visiting the Sierra Nevada some 75km
distant. The area offers full winter sports facilities, walking tours, cycling,
horse trekking and many more activities besides. This is truly an
adventurer's paradise. The ancient whitewashed villages of the
Alpujarras, famed for the Lanjaron water and more recently, Chris Stewart’s
book "Driving over Lemons”, lie to the southeast. Among these, Trevelez
lays claim to being the highest village in all of Spain.
From Granada it is possible from the Sierra Nevada to ski in the morning and
swim in the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon. If this is for you, head
south to the lesser known Costa Tropical, an hour's drive away. It has quiet
sandy coves and beaches stretched along the craggy coastline between the
Almeria and Malaga provincial borders. Many of these beaches are barely
accessible by car but well worth the effort of reaching them. Among these
are large, dedicated naturist’s areas.
For those that like to take things a little easier, La Herradura (meaning
"horseshoe"), Almuncecar, with all popular facilities, Salobrena, with its
castle and Motril for its easy yet working town demeanor are all worth
visiting.(forget visiting the port). For sailors and scuba-divers the well
maintained and expanding Marina del Este (between Almunecar and La
Herradura) provides excellent facilities in a secluded and tranquil setting.
Venturing away from the Mediterranean and to the east of Granada City, lies
the intriguing troglodyte town of Gaudix. Having sandstone as a natural
resource, half the town's population live in cave-houses. And yes, you can
stay there. To the northwest lies the old fortified town of Moclin with its
magnificent views, one of the last Moorish strongholds before Granada fell to
the Christians in 1495. Further afield, to the southeast you can enjoy the
relaxing spas of Alhama de Granada.
Granada is easily accessible by flight from its newly upgraded international
airport with the tongue-tying name of Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén
Airport, 17km to the west of the city.
The modern road infrastructure allows easy access to your destination by car
or bus; sorry, no trains. Taxis are pretty cheap, the trip into the city centre
costs about €17, the Alhambra €25, and a trip to the Sierra Nevada
Mountains will cost you around €65. For fuller information a travel guide
book is always useful. Granada both ancient and modern is there to be
enjoyed.
Granada Airport
FREDRICO GARCIA LORCA
GRANADA-JAEN AIRPORT
Airport code: GRX
Granada airport is located about 16
Kilometres west of the city near the
small town of Santa Fé. The access to
the airport is directly south from the
A92 Seville motorway.
Buses to the city from the airport are
"following the arrival of every
aeroplane" The journey time is
45minutes and the cost is 3 Euro.
FREDRICO GARCIA LORCA
GRANADA-JAEN AIRPORT
Airport code: GRX
Granada airport is located about 16
Kilometres west of the city near the
small town of Santa Fé. The access to
the airport is directly south from the
A92 Seville motorway.
Buses to the city from the airport are
"following the arrival of every
aeroplane" The journey time is
45minutes and the cost is 3 Euro.
International country code: 34
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin
plugs are standard.
Government
Parliamentary monarchy
Population
Granada: 237,929
Religion
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin
plugs are standard.
Government
Parliamentary monarchy
Population
Granada: 237,929
Religion
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
| Click The Pictures |
Granada |
Time Zone GMT +1, +2
during daylight-saving time
(last Sunday in March to last
Sunday in October)
during daylight-saving time
(last Sunday in March to last
Sunday in October)
Airport Shuttle
TRAILS OF THE ALPUJARRAS
This active trekking trip starts in noble Granada. You then move to the
valleys of the Alpujarra Alta which lie south of the Sierra Nevada.
This is Andalucia; whitewashed houses with wrought-iron grills, the
splash of colour of a painted shutter or a geranium-filled window box,
the cooling murmur of a fountain on a quiet square and the sultry
silence during the heat of the day when the siesta takes over.
Eight Days Trekking in the Alpujarras Mountains
This active trekking trip starts in noble Granada. You then move to the
valleys of the Alpujarra Alta which lie south of the Sierra Nevada.
This is Andalucia; whitewashed houses with wrought-iron grills, the
splash of colour of a painted shutter or a geranium-filled window box,
the cooling murmur of a fountain on a quiet square and the sultry
silence during the heat of the day when the siesta takes over.
Eight Days Trekking in the Alpujarras Mountains
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