Granada Unveiled: Explore its top 6 treasures
You know some places are deemed to steal your heart, when you get excited by just hearing their name. How can you not be, when this place has been celebrated by writers, poets, and photographers alike for centuries?
At the foot of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains, lies one of Spain’s most popular and fascinating cities, Granada. Being the last Spanish city to be reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs, the city has a strong Moorish character that can be easily detected in the architecture, urban planning, craftwork, and of course, its local cuisine. If you’ve ever been to Morocco, you will easily notice many similarities between the Marrakech and Fez Mosques and Palaces, and a number of Granada’s sites, like the Alhambra Palace.
Even though I didn’t have the chance to spend a good amount of time indulging in the city’s charms, I did manage to explore Granada’s highlights, as you will see further on.
Important Historical Insights: Portugal, most parts of Spain, and a part of France used to form “Al-Andalus,” a Muslim-ruled area dated from 711 AD to 1492 AD. Granada was the last place to return under Christian powers, thus completing the Christian Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula, and ending the Islamic rule.
1. Alhambra Palace
Undoubtedly, Alhambra is Granada, and Granada is Alhambra. It is the city’s most important and well-known landmark, one of Spain’s most visited sites, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. To put it simply, visiting Granada without exploring the Alhambra Palace, is like visiting Paris and not taking at least a peek at the Eiffel Tower. Even though it is called a palace, in reality, it is a big complex of buildings and gardens, it is a fortified city on top of a hill overlooking Granada.
The site’s history is quite long, and some historians believe it dates back to Roman times. The complex started taking its current shape in 1238 by the first Nasrid emir and founder of the Emirate of Granada, Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, when he made Granada his regions’ capital. For centuries to come, Alhambra acted as a self-contained palace-city, with its own mosque, hammams, fortress, and residential quarters for the monarch, his family, and his servants. Later rulers, both Muslim and Christian alike, kept making changes to it, adding rooms and palaces up to the 17th century, when it finally fell into disrepair over the next centuries.
FUN FACT: Christopher Columbus received a royal endorsement for his expedition to the Americas from the Alhambra Palace, as it was the Royal Court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella at the time.
Today, the complex’s most famous and best-preserved palaces that attract most visitors are the Mexuar (the entrance wing of the Comares Palace), the Comares Palace (containing the splendid Court of the Myrtles and the Hall of Ambassadors), the impressive Palace of the Lions, and the Partal Palace and Gardens. One more important structure is the La Vela tower, which offers a spectacular view of Granada and the surrounding mountains. The gardens are also quite fascinating as well as the incredible views you get from various spots around the complex.
To sum it all up, its intricate tilework, its stunning gardens, and exquisite courtyards make it a fascinating destination for history buffs and art lovers alike. Visiting Alhambra will give you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history of Moorish Spain, while also marvelling at the beauty and craftsmanship of this iconic world landmark. Make sure to allocate adequate time in your schedule for Alhambra, as you’ll need almost a full day to explore the whole site.
NOTE: You’ll need to buy your entry ticket as far ahead as possible (I bought mine almost a month in advance) and select a specific visiting time for the Nasrid Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes) section. You can find more information about visiting and purchase your ticket here: https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/
2. Paseo de los Tristes
Steeped in history and legend, Paseo de los Tristes is the city’s most charming and perhaps picturesque street as it winds along the banks of the Darro River, offering breathtaking views of the Albaicín district, the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance, and, of course, Alhambra.
The street was constructed in 1609 and it is an integral part of the journey from the lower parts of the city, starting from Plaza Nueva and leading uphill towards the El Albaicín district and the Sacromonte Cave neighbourhood. This vibrant promenade is filled with a number of shops, cafés, tapas bars, and a bustling atmosphere. Along the way, you’ll also encounter a number of beautiful bridges, such as Puente de las Chirimías and Puente del Aljibillo. After crossing the latter, two options lie ahead. You can follow the Camino del Avellano to the top of the mountain, where the beautiful Fuente del Avellano awaits, offering a stunning view of El Albaicín and Sacromonte. Alternatively, you can continue straight ahead or turn right and ascend to the Cuesta de Los Muertos road, which will lead you to Alhambra Palace, after a 20-minute walk.
The best time to walk the street’s length is when the sun sets, casting a majestic golden hue over Alhambra Palace, captivating the hearts of locals and visitors alike.
FUN FACT: Paseo de los Tristes means “Promenade of the Sad” and derives its name from the funerary processions that once passed through this street en route to the nearby cemetery.
3. Cathedral of Granada & Capilla Real
Granada’s Cathedral uniquely combines Renaissance, Baroque, and Spanish Gothic architectural styles. Built on the former site of the city’s main mosque, it boasts a visually striking appearance, reflecting the city’s diverse history.
The cathedral’s construction started in the early 16th century by order of Queen Isabella, and for nearly 200 years, various architects laboured over its construction, making the cathedral a mix of architectural styles. Nonetheless, despite its long construction period, the cathedral actually remains unfinished, as the second tower was never completed, mainly due to a lack of funding and several architectural challenges.
It’s not easy to realise how massive the cathedral really is by just looking at its Baroque façade, as it’s closely surrounded by other buildings, but in reality, it is one of Spain’s largest cathedrals. Its interior is quite vast, with 20 huge white piers rising from the floor to a ceiling capped by a 30m-high dome adorned with gorgeous stained glass windows.
Within the cathedral complex, there is a separate area known as the Royal Chapel, which is the burial site of Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, widely known in Spain as the Catholic Monarchs. Their tombs are adorned with intricate marble sculptures.
More information about the Cathedral, visiting hours, and purchasing tickets can be found here: https://catedraldegranada.com/precios-horarios-de-la-visita/
INTERESTING FACT: The Catholic Monarchs are especially important for Spain as their marriage and joint rule marked the de facto unification of Spain, while their reign marked a key turning point in the country’s history.
4. La Alcaicería Market
If you want to be transported back to the city’s Moorish era, then I suggest you visit La Alcaicería Market, which is located near the Cathedral. Once a vibrant silk market during the Nasrid dynasty, this captivating Arab-style bazaar continues to dazzle visitors with its diverse array of shops and stalls offering an enticing blend of artisanal crafts, spices, jewellery, leather goods, and traditional Arabic ceramics.
As you wander through its narrow labyrinthine streets, with traditional Andalusian architecture, the air is filled with the aroma of exotic spices and the lively chatter of merchants engaging in spirited haggling, creating a feast for the senses. It might look a bit touristy and crowded at times, whether you’re looking for a souvenir or simply want to indulge in the majestic atmosphere, La Alcaicería Market truly showcases Granada’s charm and multicultural tapestry.
5. House of Federico Garcia Lorca
The world-famous Spanish poet was born in Fuente Vaqueros, a small town 17 km west of Granada, and, of course, he is a local hero of the region. If you are a fan of his work, you must visit The Casa-Museo Federico García Lorca, aka Huerta de San Vicente, which was the García-Lorca family’s summer home from 1926 to 1936.
In this house the poet wrote some of his most famous works, such as the “Blood Wedding” (1932) and “Yerma” (1934). It is also here where he spent the days prior to his assassination, just before deciding to take refuge at his friend Luis Rosales’s home, where he was finally arrested and later executed.
The House-Museum has two separate areas open to the public: the Rooms and the Exhibition Hall, and you can visit them with a 45minutes guided tour, that takes approximately 30 minutes. You can easily combine your visit to the house with a relaxing stroll in the beautiful gardens that surround it, namely Federico García Lorca Park.
NOTE: On Mondays, the museum is closed. The general admission ticket costs €3, while for children from 6-12 years old, students, retired people, and seniors over 65, the ticket costs €1.
IMPORTANT: This house must not be confused with the poet’s birthplace house, the Museo Casa Natal Federico García Lorca, which is located in Fuente Vaqueros.
6. El Albaicín Neighbourhood & Mirador de San Nicolas
I saved my favourite location for last, as this place offers not only the chance to wander in atmospheric and photogenic alleyways, but also to admire spectacular Alhambra from one of the best angles possible.
Albaicín is a spellbinding district and a true symbol of Granada’s multicultural past. The first to settle in the area were Iberians, then it became an important neighbourhood, during the Muslim rule of the region, and later on came the Christian conquest of the city. The area gradually transformed into a mix of Moorish, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles. As you wander through its narrow, cobblestone streets, surrounded by white-washed houses adorned with vibrant bougainvillaea, and one picturesque plaza gives way to another and another, you can’t help but feel the special magical charm that this place holds.
El Albaicín has dozens of historic and beautiful palaces, cisterns, churches, wall gates, and Islamic-era monuments. However, if you don’t have much time, just skip everything and head to the Church and San Nicolas Mirador. This church overlooks the Plaza de San Nicolas and it is a famous lookout point (mirador) with magnificent views of Alhambra, which is located across the hill. I visited this popular spot during sunset, waiting for the sun to set and shed its warm colours over the famous palace was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Needless to say, I also got some fantastic shots of the iconic Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains that lie in the background.
Before visiting I had heard several stories by people who fell in love with Granada or with someone at Granada. While I failed to fall in love there, I definitely fell in love with the city itself, and I finally realised why it keeps seducing visitors for so many centuries. This is a city I would love to visit again and spend more time exploring its magical charms, as there are countless more sites worth exploring and secret corners to discover.
