What to see in Granada

2024 Author: Graham Hoggarth | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 10:26

Sunny Granada attracts millions of tourists thanks to its amazing appearance - here you can see Arab mosques next to the Renaissance temples. It is in this city that the pearl of Moorish architecture is located - the magnificent Alhambra palace. So what to see in Granada?

This city is famous for its unusual history - for over 700 years Granada was the capital of the Arab Caliphate. In addition to the Alhambra Palace, the Generalife's royal country residence, surrounded by green gardens, has survived from that period. Also, the Arab quarter of Albayzin deserves special attention, where oriental architecture smoothly flows into European baroque churches and rich mansions.

In 1492, the Arabs were expelled from both Granada and all of Spain. By the way, it is in this city that the famous Catholic kings are buried - Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, who united Spain. They found their final resting place in the ornate Royal Chapel, which also houses the tomb of their daughter, the infamous Juana the Mad.

The narrow and sometimes even steep streets of Granada are distinguished by their variegated architecture, in which a mixture of all styles is noticeable. Also worth a visit is the curious archaeological museum housed in a splendid Renaissance palazzo. A couple of kilometers from the historic center of the city, there is a huge modern science center with a park, which has been transformed into an interactive museum.

TOP 10 attractions of Granada

Alhambra palace

The luxurious Alhambra Palace is located on a hill in the southern part of Granada. It was built in the 14th century by emirs from the Nasrid dynasty during Arab rule. This huge palace complex consists of a powerful fortress wall, picturesque courtyards with ponds and fountains, richly decorated throne rooms and many other interesting rooms. The Alhambra is recognized as the highest achievement of Moorish art in Europe.

Among its most interesting sights, the following stand out:

The Alcazaba is a fortress wall of the palace, consisting of many powerful towers, some of which are added with sharp battlements on the tops. The circular tower, known as the Torre del Cubo, now features an observation deck. The entrance to the palace is through the picturesque Pond Square and the Gate of Justice, which are decorated with Muslim and Christian religious symbols.
The Komares Palace is the official residence of the Emir, the center of which is the famous Myrtle Courtyard, surrounded by graceful arcade galleries with a pond in the middle. The huge Komares Tower rises above the courtyard, reaching 45 meters in height. Inside it, many rooms have survived, including residential ones, luxuriously decorated with Arabic script, elegant tiles, stucco and carvings. The Golden Room with gilded walls and ceilings is also worth a visit. On the territory of the Komares Palace, unique Arab baths, reminiscent of the ancient Roman baths, have also been preserved.
The Lviv Palace served as the personal residence of the emir. Its most famous part is the lion's courtyard, also surrounded by openwork arcades with 124 thin columns. In the center of the courtyard is the Lion Fountain, which is a huge bowl supported by 12 lions. Among other attractions are the women's quarters, called the Hall of the Two Sisters, and the luxurious Hall of Abenserrachs. The domes in both rooms resemble honeycombs, which is typical of Muslim architecture. Other halls in the Lviv Palace are also luxuriously decorated with marble, stucco molding and tiles; fountains are installed in many rooms.

The Alhambra also includes the palace of Charles V, added after the liberation of Granada from the Arabs, and the residential quarter of the Alhambra, the central axis of which is Royal Street. And behind the palace complex there are luxurious gardens of the Emir's summer residence - Generalife.

Charles V palace

In 1526, the Spanish king Charles V spent his honeymoon in the Alhambra palace and soon decided to build his own residence on the territory of this complex. Construction began on a luxurious Renaissance mansion that contrasted sharply with the exterior of the Moorish palace. Ultimately, King Charles V never had a chance to live in his new residence - its construction dragged on until the 20th century, and for almost 500 years the palace stood without a roof.

The exterior of the palace especially stands out for its southern facade, richly decorated with various columns, balconies and reliefs. The courtyard, which has two rows of columns, is reminiscent of ancient Roman patios.

Now in the halls of the palace of Charles V there are two museums at once. The Museum of Fine Arts exhibits paintings and sculptures from the 16th to 19th centuries, including the monumental Baroque canvases by Alonso Cano. Another museum is dedicated to Islamic art of the Middle Ages. Here you can see old coins, decorative elements and various editions of the Koran, preserved from the Arab rule in Granada.

Generalife

The picturesque Generalife Palace, immersed in greenery, is located behind the Alhambra and previously served as the country residence of the emirs - the rulers of Granada. This is one of the oldest surviving palace and park complexes, made in the Moorish style. It was built at the beginning of the XIV century.

The gardens of the Generalife seem to recreate the Muslim paradise described in the Quran. There are many fountains, artificial ponds, flower beds with fragrant roses. The Sultana Gardens are also known as the Cypress Courtyard.

Granada Cathedral

Granada is famous for its splendid cathedral, built to commemorate the liberation of the city from the Moors in 1492. The monumental western façade of the temple, which resembles a triumphal arch and is decorated with graceful sculptural reliefs by Alonso Cano, stands out especially. By the way, this master of Spanish Baroque is buried in the cathedral, designed by him. It is worth noting that the cathedral was built over several centuries at once, and therefore you can see elements of both the Baroque and the more opulent style of the Rococo era.

Inside the walls of the temple were painted by the great painter El Greco. The interior of the cathedral is dominated by gold and white marble.

Another symbol of Granada is adjacent to the building of the cathedral - the famous Royal Chapel, where a couple of Catholic kings are buried.

Royal chapel

The Royal Chapel is directly adjacent to the Cathedral. This is the oldest part of it - it was built in 1505-1506. This chapel is considered one of the largest in all of Spain. It is also one of the last surviving monuments made in the architectural style of Isabelino, the peak of which fell on the reign of Queen Isabella of Castile. The chapel facade is luxuriously decorated with Gothic windows, a balcony, heraldry and other symbols of royalty.

Inside the chapel in a luxurious marble tomb are buried Catholic kings - Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, under whom Spain was unified and liberated from the Arabs. King Ferdinand is depicted in full military attire. Nearby is the tomb of their daughter - the infamous Juana the Mad and her husband Philip the Fair.

The royal chapel also has a splendid altar with reliquaries, made of colored wood in the style of the Spanish Renaissance. It is also worth noting the openwork retablo - the altar barrier made in the same style. And in the chapel's treasury, you can see the works of the great Dutch painters - Hans Memling and Rogier van der Weyden. These paintings used to be the personal collection of Queen Isabella. It also houses paintings by Botticelli and Perugino and relics that belonged to a couple of Catholic kings - the sword of King Ferdinand and the crown of Queen Isabella.

Albaysin

The Muslim quarter of Albaysin has been preserved practically intact, however, many of the mosques located here have been converted into churches. These narrow, winding streets are home to cozy, light-colored Moorish-style houses, with sprawling palms and fragrant jasmine growing between them.

Among the main attractions of the Albayzin quarter, the following stand out:

The Church of St. Gilles and St. Anne was formerly used as a mosque. Its appearance intertwines elements of Moorish architecture and decoration more characteristic of the European Renaissance. The magnificent portal of the temple stands out especially, with graceful sculptures of saints located above the entrance.
El Banyuelo is an old Arabian bath complex reminiscent of the ancient Roman baths. It has been well preserved since the 11th century. Its interior is a spacious hall with thin columns supporting a vaulted ceiling, in which amazing holes have been made, creating the effect of a starry sky.
The Church of St. Nicholas rises on a hill. Earlier on this place there was an old mosque, converted into a Catholic church. Therefore, in its appearance, elements of the Moorish and Gothic styles are intertwined. And on the square in front of the temple, a special observation deck was built, called Mirador de san Nicolas. It offers stunning views of the Alhambra and the Generalife gardens.
The Archaeological Museum of Granada is housed in an opulent Renaissance mansion built in 1539. The façade of the palace, decorated with exquisite reliefs and carvings, stands out especially. The museum collection is quite extensive - here you can see the history of Granada, dating back to the Paleolithic. Among the outstanding exhibits are various antique artifacts, as well as objects of Muslim culture and life.

Sacromonte

The Muslim quarter of Albaycín smoothly flows into the even more unique area of Sacromonte, stretching on the slopes of the hill. For a long time, outlaws settled here - itinerant gypsies, as well as Arabs and Jews expelled from the city in the 16th century. They cut their own modest dwellings - cuevas - right on the slopes of the hill. Many of these tiny houses, painted white, have survived here today.

A huge abbey rises on the Sacromonte hill, it is believed that it was founded by the first Christians who baptized Spain in the 1st century AD. The abbey houses the relics of Saint Cecilio, the first bishop, martyr and patron saint of Granada. The modern architectural complex belonging to the Sacromonte Abbey was built in the 17th century. The ancient catacombs, called Santa Cuevas, have been preserved here. Today, services are also held in these caves.

Saint Jerome monastery

The monastery dedicated to Saint Jerome was founded by the Catholic kings - Ferdinand and Isabella - at the end of the 15th century, before Granada was delivered from the Arabs. However, construction work began already in 1504. The monastery is located a couple of kilometers from the historic city center.

The monastery of Saint Jerome is considered a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance. Especially noteworthy is its high main altar, which occupies the entire space in the temple from floor to ceiling. It is made of gilded wood and decorated with graceful statues of saints.

The inner courtyard of the monastery and the monastic cells are of particular interest. Curiously, King Charles V of Spain and Queen Isabella of Portugal spent their honeymoon here.

The greatest Spanish commander, Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordova, known as the Great Captain, is buried in the monastery of St. Jerome. It was thanks to him that Granada was liberated from Muslim rule.

Science park

A couple of kilometers from the Alhambra is a huge scientific center, which occupies several modern buildings made of glass and concrete. Now it hosts a variety of research and interactive exhibitions, as well as the famous science museum.

The center itself, with an area of 70 thousand square meters, was opened in 1995. It consists of several departments:

The department dedicated to medicine and the human body is housed in a curious building shaped like a microscope. Here you can get acquainted with the processes taking place in the human body, as well as with the history of the development of various sciences, including genetics.
Foucault's pavilion is dedicated to the development of natural sciences, especially physics. It tells about the origin of our planet, reveals the secrets of various physical phenomena, and a fascinating game is prepared for children explaining how the senses work. In the same building - the oldest of the entire complex - the planetarium is located.
Around the scientific center there is a huge garden, on the territory of which there are also many pavilions. For example, here you can see a collection of tropical butterflies, stroll along the shady alleys of the botanical garden, as well as climb to the top of the observation tower and admire the view of Granada.

Monastery de la Cartuja

The Carthusian Monastery de la Cartuja is located a couple of kilometers from the historic center of Granada. It was founded in 1506 and is located in a picturesque area surrounded by fruit trees. The exterior of the monastery is designed in the style of the Spanish Renaissance, but its interior design is amazing. The interior is decorated in an artsy Churrigueresco style with ivory, silver, marble, pearls and precious stones. The main altar and the painted dome of the main temple of the monastery are especially luxuriously decorated.