Holidays to Granada

It is, of course, for the Alhambra that Granada is known.  The Moorish citadel, garden and palace complex are the most renowned Andalusian, Islamic buildings in the world.  The Alhambra represented the zenith in Nasrid art of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Founded in Roman times, it was the Umayyad conquest of Spain dating from 711 AD which was to create Granada and set the scene to make it one of the most important cities in the south of Spain (Al-Andalus). From 711 AD until the final surrender of the Muslim rulers in 1492, Granada flourished and grew.  Like many forward looking liberal cities, Granada had Arab, Berber, Christian and Jewish quarters and all lived in relative harmony.

The Alhambra was a fortress, citadel, palace and fabulous gardens (Generalife) where the Muslim rulers could get away from the stresses of life.  Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor added a palace in 1527.

There are Christian monuments too in the city.  The Renaissance Cathedral was built on the site of the Nasrid Mosque of Granada.  Then there is the Royal Chapel, the Albayzin neighbourhood with narrow, labyrinthine streets, the picturesque Sacromonte neighbourhood and the charterhouse monastery.

Winters in Granada are generally cool and wet and the summers hot and dry, with temperatures sometimes reaching 34°C.

There are good train connections from Granada and the nearest airport is the Federico Garcia Lorca Airport about 15km from the city.

Granada is rarely quiet and uncrowded but there is much to do and see and it is never boring.