Cities of Andalusia

Short description

The lively and merry mood of the city on the feet of the Sierra Nevada mountains is legendary. The fertile plateau ("Vega") and snow covered summits, a tiny river and the mightily Moorish heritage characterize its life. In the year 2009, 234,320 people inhabit the capital of the province, today the seat of an important university.

Classification:

Main sights to visit

Alhambra – the most important monument of the Arab period in Spain. Inside among other things: Nazarí Palaces, the Court of the Lions, the Court of the Myrtles, the Alcazaba fortress, various towers and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V. with the Museum of Fine Arts.
Generalife - garden and summer residence of the Nazarí kings during the 14th century. Small ponds, water fountains and the scent of flowers make a fairy tale atmosphere.

Cathedral – sacred church, planned in Gothic style but finished during Renaissance. Close to the cathedral is the
Capilla Real – late Gothic period. Inside, the tomb of the Catholic Monarchs Isabel (Elisabeth) of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragón.
Plaza Bib-Rambla – large square in front of the Cathedral.

Plaza Nueva with the court Chancillería and the Santa Ana Church in Mudéjar style. From here the walkway
Carrera del Darro – leads up the Darro river, passes the Arab Baths ("El Bañuelo"), an Archaeological Museum and the San Pedro Church.
Albayzin – the white, Moorish quarter, a jewel of world architecture, small narrow streets and the Mirador (view point) San Nicolás. Worth seeing: El Salvador Church and the convent Santa Isabel la Real.

Monasterio de San Jerónimo – Renaissance style convent
Santos Justo y Pastor, San Juan de Dios – Baroque style churches located in the quarter close to the San Jerónimo monastery.

Cartuja – convent of the Carthusian monks from the 17th century in pure Baroque style and a magnificent Sacristy.

Sacromonte - traditional gypsy quarter with cave dwellings. Located outside the city.

Excursions

Sierra Nevada – National park and winter sport resort. Skiing can be practiced until may. (local road GR 420 to the "Sol y Nieve" station)
Las Alpujarras – the last refuge of the Moors. Mountain villages Pampaneira, Bubión, Capileira and Trevélez in the southeast of Granada. On the way lies the mineral spring Lanjarón.

On the trails of Federico García Lorca - Museum Lorca: Calle de la Virgen Blanca and an excursion to Fuente Vaqueros with the birth place of the most important Spanish poet of the 20^th century (17kms/11 miles west).

Touristic infrastructure

Tourist information
Corral del Carbón
Plaza Mariana Pineda 10 (Centre)

Traffic connections
Airport (13km / 8 miles) on the N-342: Mainly domestic flights

Trains (RENFE) to Málaga, Seville, Almería, Algeciras, Madrid; Regional trains

Motorways to Jaén/Madrid, Sevilla/Málaga, Murcia/Alicante; National roads to Córdoba, Motril (CostaTropical).

Accommodation
More than 100 hotels and hostels of different categories and prices.

Hotel check:

Tapas bars
Many possibilities on the Plaza Nueva and all over the city.

Restaurants
Excellent regional food and also influences of the Arab kitchen.

Leisure
Music, theater and exhibitions: Centro Cultural Manuel da Falla

Theater events: Teatro Alhambra

Open air presentation: Corral del Carbón

Interactive museum with astronomical observatory: Parque de las Ciencias

Einkäufe
Handicraft shops: Alcaicería, former silk market place in the Zacatín street

Fashion shops close to the Cathedral

Antique objects and guitars: Elvira street and Cuesta de Gomeréz

Impressive scenery as from the Tales of a Thousand and One Nights

Impressive scenery as from the
Tales of a Thousand and One Nights