P11006
Granada, Spain
Once the last bastion of Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula, Granada is where spanish and north-african culture meet in an entirely different version of Spain. In the foothills of the highest spanish mountains of the Sierra Nevada, this city still basks in the glory of the Alhambra. One of the best places to experience Granada is in the neighbourhood of Albaicín. In the hills above the Alhambra, this is the moorish heart of the city, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its high historical conservational state. Pass the Puerta Elvira (Gate of Elvira), once the main gate of Granada. Destroyed during the Napoleonic invasion, only the arch survived, therefore called “the arch of Elvira”. See the palace of Dar-al-Horra, built shortly before the conquest of Granada by the Spanish in the 15th century. It is the only Muslim palace preserved in this neighbourhood. Enter the city’s downtown through Calle Caldereria Nueva, where the sounds and aromas of moorish culture are evident, by the lingering smells of Shisha pipes and Tagine in the air. This street is famous for it’s tearooms (teterías), and you will be able to see a myriad of hookahs, jewellery and North African pottery that will make you believe you are in a Moroccan souk. Be amazed by the Cathedral of Granada, constructed in the 16th century after the conquest of the city, and in the center of the old Muslim Medina. It has some gothic influence but was mostly built in a Spanish Renaissance style. Follow us into the narrow streets covered in white houses, gardened patios and many springs that mix in harmony arabic and christian architecture. We will take you to the famous sightseeing spot of San Nicolás, with its spectacular view of the towers and walls of the Alhambra, and the city below.
