- In the lists of UNESCO
- Religious buildings
- Delicious points on the map
- Note to shopaholics
Andalusia is one of the most picturesque regions in the Pyrenees, and its capital is the quintessence of all the beauty that can be seen and learned during a tour to Spain. The city is literally overflowing with architectural masterpieces from the era of Moorish rule and the later period of the Reconquista. When planning a route and planning where to go in Granada, be prepared to meet priceless monuments of bygone eras: palaces and cathedrals, chapels and beautiful gardens.
Andalusia has prepared its own delights for fans of gastronomic tours. The cuisine of this region is distinguished by its special flavor and brightness of taste.
Granada is not less rich in spectacles: only flamenco performances in the cave quarter of Sacramonte are worth what! By the way, you can easily take a couple of lessons of incendiary Spanish dance. Flamenco schools in Granada are open at every turn.
In the lists of UNESCO
The authoritative world organization UNESCO, engaged in the preservation of the cultural heritage of the planet, has listed three sites in Granada as particularly valuable. You can go on an excursion to any of them:
- It is no coincidence that the Alhambra is considered a model of Moorish art in the Old World and is often called the highest achievement of architects of the late Middle Ages. The palace and park ensemble of the Alhambra appeared in Granada during the Nasrid dynasty, who established their power in the lands of Andalusia in the first third of the 13th century. The complex, surrounded by fortified walls, includes palaces and mosques, gates and fountains, squares and towers, hamams and residential buildings, gardens and outbuildings. All structures are decorated with stone carvings, bizarre architectural elements and colored stained glass windows. The complex has a museum dedicated to Islamic art.
- The country residence of the Nasrid was called Generalife. It was built on a hill above the historic part of Granada at the beginning of the 14th century. The complex includes doors and luxurious gardens with pools, fountains, flower beds and pavilions. The Generalife Gardens are the oldest surviving Moorish sites of its kind. The landscape designers of the Generalife were able to recreate scenes and images from the holy book of Muslims with the help of plants of different types.
- Islamic traditions in architecture became an inspiration for the authors of the project of the residential area of Albaisin, which arose in Granada during the era of Moorish rule. However, the quarter clearly lacks the project harmony, because in the labyrinth of its streets and lanes you can easily get lost even with a navigator. Especially picturesque in this part of the city are typical houses, decorated with wrought iron elements and stucco moldings.
The magnificent views of the city from the observation decks in Albaicin are another good reason to go for a walk in the old quarter of Granada.
Religious buildings
Watching the mixture of architectural techniques and styles of Andalusia, you will certainly notice the unusual appearance of its religious buildings. It is not surprising, because many cathedrals were built on the ruins of mosques, and some of the Islamic buildings were converted into Catholic churches peacefully.
Granada Cathedral was also erected on the stones left over from the mosque. In 1518, when the last representatives of the Nasrid dynasty left the city, the inhabitants of Granada began to build their own temple. The work took almost two centuries, but the result was a grandiose structure, from the view of which tourists in Granada are rightly breathtaking. Elements of Gothic, Rococo and Classicism are clearly visible in the appearance of the cathedral, the main facade is majestic and magnificent, and the interiors are richly decorated with gilding, white marble, stained glass windows and stone carvings.
The building adjacent to the cathedral, the architectural style of which can be called Isabelino, serves as a burial vault for monarchs. The Royal Chapel in Granada appeared thanks to Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, who finally defeated the Moors and expelled them from the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of the tomb began in 1504, and both monarchs now rest in the largest burial chapel in Spain. The generosity of the crowned customers allowed the authors of the chapel project to develop in full force. Its façade is lavishly decorated with flaming Gothic architectural elements, and its Carrara marble tombstones are masterpieces of sculptural art. The collection of paintings in the chapel is also worthy of admiration: in addition to paintings by Hans Memling and Rogier van der Weyden, the walls are also decorated with masterpieces by Perugino and Botticelli.
The Sacromonte Abbey is quite worthy to serve as a filming location for a film series about medieval historical events. It was founded on the site of the death of Saint Cecilio, who was tortured by the Romans. If you believe that the tablets with Arabic script found during archaeological research are genuine, the age of the monastery looks very respectable. The abbey museum displays many other rarities, including the oldest map of the city.
Having conquered Granada at the end of the 15th century. among the Arab invaders, the Spaniards founded another monastery, which later became the resting place of the Great Captain of the Reconquista Fernando Gonzalez de Cordoba. The architect who built the city's cathedral was commissioned to design the buildings of the monastery of St. Jerome. The monastery was built for almost half a century, and during this time the original Gothic plan acquired the clear features of the early Renaissance. The attention of visitors to the monastery is invariably attracted by the altar, richly decorated with carved illustrations of the life of the Savior. The paintings of the walls and streams of the main chapel are also impressive, and the church organ appeared in the monastery of St. Jerome in the 18th century.
Delicious points on the map
Choosing from the whole variety of the Spanish menu, the tourist, one way or another, will not be able to ignore tapas. Light wine snacks are served before the main meal or replace it altogether if you are going to drink beer while watching the game of your favorite team. The best place to go in search of perfect tapas in Granada is Navas Street, where restaurants can serve not only chips with salsa, but also paella with seafood as snacks.
If a snack format isn't your thing, head to a restaurant with a focus on serious artillery: crab bocas de la Isla, oxtail stew, potato tortilla or gazpachuelo:
- A perfect selection of Andalusian food awaits the visitor at La Oliva. The attentive staff will not leave a stone unturned from the day's fatigue of a tourist, delighting with pleasant service and delicious food. A family celebration or a romantic dinner at La Oliva is a great success, especially if you love live Spanish music.
- An inevitable pleasure can be expected from visiting Flamenco Jardines de Zoraya, the menu of which is based on seafood dishes. In the morning, this institution organizes buffet breakfasts, and in the evenings, meetings of flamenco lovers are held.
- A selection of wines to suit any food and any occasion is not the only virtue of El Trillo del Reca. In the institution you can taste Mediterranean cuisine prepared in accordance with classic Spanish, French and Italian recipes.
- "Like at home" service and a wide selection of authentic Andalusian delicacies - this is Oliver. It is often called a family one, because the restaurant's menu contains suitable food for both adults and kids. The bartenders at Oliver specialize in in-house signature cocktails.
- Desserts and sweets are not alien even to vegetarians, as the El Piano staff is happy to confirm. The establishment positions itself as a haven for vegetarians, but the assortment of sweets attracts fans of different dietary preferences in El Piano.
When looking for the best, don't forget that Granada prepares and serves a dish that remains a timeless classic in this part of Spain. Black Iberian jamon takes first place in both restaurant orders and searches for shopping in Granada.
Note to shopaholics
Since we are talking about shops, it is worth mentioning a few useful addresses where fashionistas and fashionistas should go in Granada. For example, Centro Comercial Neptuno, which is a large shopping center with dozens of boutiques under one roof. Neptuno sells clothing and footwear, ski sports equipment and jewelry, food and wine. The food court in Centro Comercial Neptuno deserves special attention from lovers of inexpensive and tasty food: its restaurants offer the best local cuisine, and the not too pretentious format of the establishments allows keeping affordable prices.
Although La Ventana is located in the city center on one of its main squares, the prices for souvenirs are quite reasonable here, and the assortment is very diverse. In the store, you can buy mugs and T-shirts with views of Granada, find postcards for friends, and find out where else to go in and around the city with inexpensive travel guides.
Silver jewelry with turquoise in the Andalusian style will surely please the representatives of the fair half of humanity traveling in Spain. In Tagua, only original works of local craftsmen are sold, and the prices for jewelry allow you to purchase several items and make perfect ensembles from them.
A haven for fashion-conscious men in Granada is at the La Corona store. Shirts and suits that fit perfectly on any figure, stylish ties and shoes made of genuine leather, branded bags and the latest perfume are presented in La Corona in the right assortment and quantities. The prices cannot be called democratic, but during the sales season you can buy everything and it is very profitable in one place.
