Granada Travel and Tapas For Holidays Visit Alhambra Calles<<>> A Granada travel break is filled with variety because as a city it caters to a wide variety of tastes. Situated in Andalusia Spain, at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range the Sierra Nevada, where the three rivers of the Beiro, Darro and Genil meet. It draws visitors because of The Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace and is popular among the young because of the University and the exuberant night life of bars, clubs and tapas. Granada calles (streets) are filled almost all the time but especially during the summer months as the tourists descend upon it.
The city was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The current name was give by the Arabs in the 8th century, when they invaded. Some say it means ‘great castle’, after the Roman fortress that once stood on the Hill.
When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, who are thought to be one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans. From being a Moslem stronghold it became Christian in 1492 and has remained that way ever since. The city symbol is the pomegranate (in Spanish, 'granada').
The biggest attraction for Granada holidays is without doubt the Alhambra, which was built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. It is more than one building more a series of Castle, palaces and gardens with fountains and pools.
When the city of Cordoba fell to the Christians in 1236, the centre of Moorish power was transferred to Granada. That led to the construction of a new castle on the hill. The Alhambra, Calat-Al-Hama or ‘The Red Castle’, so called because of its reddish stone. As you descend the hill and re-enter the town you will see many bars, especially around Plaza Nueva and Campo del Principe, offering the famous tapas and when you visit Granada tapas is a must try it, type of thing.
The best view of the 800-year-old Islamic fortress is found up in the Albaicin district at the Mirador de San Nicolas, which has a viewing area. Magnificent views are to be had here, the highest point of the Albaicin, especially at night. When the Christians drove the Moors out of the city of Baeza in the 13th century. They fled here and re-settled, creating a suburb called Albaicin that took on the name of their former home. It’s a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses. Most of the churches in this area are built on the foundations of Moorish mosques. It’s a great area for just wandering around the and perhaps having a glass of Moroccan tea or evening tapas.
The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, and was once the home of Granada's large gypsy community. Flamenco tourist shows still take place in the caves and at some of the cave bars you can find groups of friends playing together in impromptu sessions. <<>> In the center of the city is the Cathedral.
It was universally considered, in its day, to be one of the most majestic churches in Christendom. Rivalling St. Peter's in Rome.
It includes the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried.
They chose to be buried in this city because they saw its conquest as the crowning achievement of their reign. A Granada travel tour will be time well spent and you will enjoy the tapas.
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