"The last Moorish city" a Granada Travel Page by leplaya

OK, I’m probably going to get a lot of people upset, but I really didn’t like Granada too much. Even in the winter time, it felt like a big tourist trap. Yes, the Alhambra is very beautiful, but besides that, there’s really no other reason to visit. There are souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants everywhere. Of the Spanish cities I’ve been in, this is the only one where I heard more English than Spanish. In addition, there are a lot of sketchy looking people who are probably out to steal your wallet. My suggestion is to spend one night here, see the Alhambra, and go to a more interesting city the rest of your time.

Granada was the last major city to be Moorish hands before Isabella and Ferdinand conquered it in 1492. As such, it is probably the city with the most Moorish influence remaining. The Alhambra (the reason why this city is famous), was once a city in itself. It is an amazing collection of towers, gardens, palaces, and ruins. It is definitely worth a visit, although, I must say, after seeing a few rooms with intricate Moorish designs, you kind of get tired of it. The Albaicin is a neighborhood next to the Alhambra that still retains buildings and narrow passageways from the Moorish times. However, it really isn’t much to look at. It is kind of a run down residential area.

Take my take on this city with a grain of salt. I was only there for two days in the winter. A friend of mine who was there during the summer had the complete opposite experience. It is a lively university city and can potentially offer more than just the tourist traps.

One last comment: Since the elevation of the city is over 700 meters the temperature is cooler than the rest of Andalucia. This can be a good thing (in the summer) or a bad thing (in the winter).