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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%
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
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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;
starts in noble Granada.
You then move to the
valleys of the Alpujarra
Alta which lie south of
the Sierra Nevada.
This is Andalucia;
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- 3 nights in a 3* Hotel for 2 adults
- 24 hour pass for the Granada hop-
on, hop-off buss - Guided tour of the Alhambra Palace
Best of Granada - 3 Night City Break
| from €99.29 pp |
whitewashed houses with wrought-iron grills,
and the sultry silence during the heat of the day
when the siesta takes over.
Eight Days Trekking in the Alpujarras Mountains
and the sultry silence during the heat of the day
when the siesta takes over.
Eight Days Trekking in the Alpujarras Mountains
| Trails of the Alpujarras |
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