Granada (Photo by hosiawak)
Granada is the capital of Spain’s province of Granada and located near the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Although Summer temperatures sometimes reach 40 degrees Celsius, Autumn and Spring in Grenada are mild. Because Granada is just 70km from the Mediterranean coast, one can easily go skiing on the mountains and walk the beach on the same day. Granada holidays are a favourite for travellers looking for a glimpse of Spain’s history.
Granada features a variety of attractions. The premier landmark in Granada, however, is the majestic Alhambra. The Moorish citadel and palace is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site and considered by many to be one of the wonders of the world. Visitors can spend an entire day viewing the gardens, fortifications and palaces, which took hundreds of years to build. However, in addition to the grand Alhambra, the city features other culturally significant attractions. Other important historical buildings include the Cathedral of Giralda and the Royal Chapel. Meanwhile, the Albaicín neighbourhood still has a very Arabic feel despite the ethnic cleansing of its Arabic community five hundred years ago. Located on a hill opposite the Alhambra, nearly every vantage point from Albaicín includes a view of the palaces. Another popular neighboruhood is Sacromonte. The neighbourhood is famous for its “gitano” population, and one can catch a Flamenco performance there.
Whether one wants to get lost in an ancient citadel, view Flamenco, or walk ancient streets, Granada offers many attractions for tourists looking for a relaxing vacation.
