Granada & La Alhambra

After relaxing in Badajoz for two days, Mom and I drove 5 hours to Granada.  The main attraction in the city of Granada is "La Alhambra".   La Alhambra, meaning "Red Fortress" in Arabic, was built by the last Muslim state in the Iberian peninsula. It originally was built in the year 889 as a military defense and later in 1333 it was converted into a palace.  

Why is it so important?  La Alhambra is the most visited monument in the country of Spain, and the third most popular monument in Europe.  I bought two tickets for us in November,  buying tickets in advance is a must.  It is such an impressive monument because first of all, it's huge.  Second, you could never guess from the outside looking in how impressive the architecture and designs are.  Third, it is a huge piece of history, marking the last expulsion of the Muslims from Spain. 


The sunrise behind the Sierra Nevada and La Alhambra

The city of Granada was the last to fall to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, ending an 8 century long Arab rule.  When you go to Granada you can just feel it's different vibes.  Every corner of Spain differs from the next but Granada is verrryy different.  There are streets lined up with Moroccan style jewlery, purses, clothes, etc. Mom and I bought 3 or 4 scarves from one of the vendors. There are also tons and tons of Hookah and tea spots.  It felt like Granada was a mix of Spanish/Arab/Hippies and of course lots of tourists visiting. 

Here it is again with a better view of the Sierra Nevada behind it

Our hotel/house where we stayed was situated on top of a hill with a view of La Alhambra straight ahead.  This neighborhood that we stayed in is called the "Albayzín" and it is an old gypsy neighborhood.  The streets are very narrow and constructed in a way where nothing makes sense and getting lost is your best bet in seeing it all.

The view from our terrace

The following are pictures from inside La Alhambra.  We spent around 3-4 hours inside of it but let me warn you, my pictures DO NOT at all capture the beauty of it. 

 

The Patio of Lions, the most famous part of La Alhambra

 

 

Mom and I on the watch tower of La Alhambra, over looking the city

 

There are 124 white marble columns in the Patio of Lions

 

 

 

One of the ceilings, the picture doesn't capture how gorgeous it is

 

Patio of Lions

 

 

Another ceiling

 

The Alhambra is located on a strategic point, with a view over the whole city

The day we toured La Alhambra was New Years Eve Day.  Afterwards we went to find something to eat and relax before we went out.  We didn't really have set plans for NYE but we ended up at an Irish Pub eating 12 grapes at midnight with some Spaniards.  Let's just say that was a first! I'm glad we got the chance to eat the 12 grapes because it is Spanish tradition to do so at the 12 chimes of midnight- it brings you good luck.
 
Even though we only had two days in Granada, we got to explore many things- here are my recommendations :)

Top 7 things to do in Granada

1. La Alhambra.  Buy your tickets in advance and stretch beforehand if you plan on walking up and down the hills to reach it

2.  Visit the cathedral and La Capilla Real (where Isabel and Fernando are buried)
 
3. Eat a kebab- a delicious sandwich filled with chicken or beef/lamb mixture

4. Shop on the Moroccan streets.  You can buy anything from scarves, rings, hookahs, purses, etc.

5. Go see the gypsy caves of Sacramonte, real caves that are built into the mountains that people can live in rent free.  Some of them are for Flamenco performances or Flamenco museums.

6.  Get lost in the Albayzín and go to the viewpoints of La Alhambra.  Mirador San Nicolas is the biggest one. 

7.  Go order drinks at any restaurant and get FREE tapas! Yes, free :) It's a law in Granada for restaurants to serve you free plates of food when you order any drink. 

If you are planning a trip to Granada, I recommend staying at La Casa Bombo.  It's kind of like a bed and breakfast type of accommodation.  You can't beat the view!