Granada: the city, the Alhambra and more…

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duvinca3 years ago4 min read

Hello people and pinmapplers!

There are fascinating places that contain a world of things to visit, discover and admire, but sometimes there are places that contain different worlds in one. So we travel to a city where we can feel ourselves in different environments and times at the same time, simply walking through its streets, neighborhoods and surroundings and thus, more than traveling, we will feel that we are teleporting space-time.

And where is that amazing city?

This is Granada, in southern Spain. A historic city where there are any, which represents decisive moments in the history of the country and which is full of art, nature and a good atmosphere.

Normally in those places it seems that the sun always shines and it is hot, but not always, and on this trip the sky was gray, and in the different ecosystems, due to the height at times it was cold. Yes, there are days like that too.

The city

We start with the city itself, in the heart of Granada, a city by the way, with a student spirit, because the university receives many students every year, so the atmosphere is always alive here.

And there is a place that we like to visit, next to the river Genil, the bridges of bygone eras take us to an area from which we can admire a tremendously well-known fortification, The Alhambra, whose name in Arabic means "the red castle". They are those things that you study and many years later you still remember. Then we will go there...

But there is more, despite the rain, the cathedral is full of people, there are almost more people around with umbrellas.

We discovered more monuments, although we passed quickly, sightseeing in the rain is not the same, but the Mozarabic architecture that can also be seen near those narrow dark old streets where the souk would surely be, here the influence of the past remains intensely.

The Alhambra

But the most intense and desired visit is to The Alhambra, a World Heritage Site. An architectural complex without equal, where Emperor Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany also rested. So inside there are contrasts that show the passage of history and the different eras. As data, the purchase of tickets better in advance and patience.

Upon arrival, the views, from there we can see the city, and especially a famous traditional and ancient neighborhood of white houses called the Albaicín, also a World Heritage Site.

And if we start to explore all the space, we start surprised by the beauty of a nice garden, the Generalife. We realize the knowledge they had in terms of water facilities and ornamental natural beauty.

But there is more to the citadel itself (the Alcazaba, point of defense) where we enjoy more views...

And still more: the walls, the baths, the stone details, the Emperor's Palace, the Partal palace with the Tower of the ladies, many place to discover in the tour inside.

And don't forget a very popular space, the Courtyard of the Lions or Patio de los Leones (because to its central fountain) but it is too popular, there are many people…

Sierra Nevada

And suddenly we go from a warm exotic world of ancient and Arabic architecture to the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada and its alpine ski resort. Have we traveled to Switzerland? No, in just 10 minutes from one place to another and also the weather accordingly because it started to snow, what a surprise!

So we enjoy also those natural landscapes with the charm of snow.

Traveller's Thoughts

What a complete and fast city tour, with hardly any time to reflect and assimilate so much to see, and so much that I have not mentioned for not making it longer, and so much that we missed due to lack of time.

So there are more reasons to return to that happy, beautiful city, located under the mountains and that treasures different moments in history, with impressive places, and with a special magic, a city that contains several worlds in the same place.