Sign in with Facebook"Spellbinding Granada" Granada by TheWanderingCamel
Granada Travel Guide: 1,993 reviews and 4,909 photos
And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell ...."
The first lines of an old song, aching with longing and romance. The song cast its spell on me as I was growing up and Granada became a place I knew I had to see .... one day .... some day.
The years rolled by, years of wonderful travels, and and I saw a lot of beautiful and amazing places along the way, but Granada eluded me until I could wait no longer. Work was taking us to Madrid and there was no way I was going to leave Spain without seeing Granada.
So there we were, finally, on a train, heading south from Madrid, through endless olive groves, arriving in the late afternoon, a taxi to the apartment we'd rented in the old Moorish quarter of the city, bags dropped in the door and up the stairs to the tower atop the apartment building to check out the view ... and there it was
"...the glory of yesterday"
Granada's jewel, the famed Alhambra
If ever a name conjures up images of past glories, refined beauty and the romance of the past, it has to be the Alhambra. Built in the late Middle Ages by the last Muslim rulers of southern Spain, a complex of exquisite palaces and pleasure gardens on a high bluff overlooking the original Moorish city on the ravine's opposite flank and the Renaissance city built by the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, who drove the Moors from their land in 1492, it is one of the most famed buildings in the world.
Click on the photo here for a panorama showing the Nasrid Palaces with the Renaissance palace of Charles V behind (on the left) and the Red Fort (on the right) with a backdrop of the Sierra Nevada.
Granada's charms are not simply confined to the Alhambra. For those with the time to explore (all too many come to Granada on a day trip that deposits them at the gates of the palaces with only a few hours in hand before they head back to their hotel bars and crowded beaches) there's much to see and enjoy. The royal city with its great cathedral and grand buildings, the narrow cobbled lanes and whitewashed houses of the old Arab quarter, gypsies and flamenco in Sacromonte, students and tourists in cafes and bars, tourist shops in the Alcaiceria, delicious cheeses, hams, fresh produce and more in the market, long late dinners eaten outdoors on a summer's evening ....
It was worth the waiting.
leyle
Reviews (2)
Settling in
Hotels
(1)
With four apartments in the building, we opted for a one-bedroomed one on the first floor (2nd floor if you go by... more travel advice
Malaga to Granada
Transportation
(1)
A question in the Travel Forum has prompted me to write this tip. Someone asked about making their own way to Granada... more travel advice
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Comments (10)
Leyle, lovely little page with helpful tips here. The St Nicolas apartments really seem to be a good find and the transportation tip come quite handy when travelling independently. Well done.
Now that looks very nice. And i will be going there next week :O)
Beautiful introduction! The idyllic apartment you described seems too good to be true---what a find! You obviously had a wonderful visit to Granada!
My next trip. Your overview is mouth watering :)
It is unfortunate that you visited Granada and were not able to make to Seville. Soon I hope. I'll let you know when the page is ready.
Leyle, Normandie was memorable. This summer I finally get to explore Southern Spain. Best regards, Karl
Hi Lyle, Thanks for visiting my Zagreb page, had a look at your Granada page, just about to book a coach tour Spain, Portugal & Morroco.
I agree, Granada is special and yes you never stop discovering something special :-) I have a love affair with this city for a long time! :-)
Lovely lodgings in the leafy lanes Leyle!
Leyle - this is.... magnificent !! I am already looking forward to read your way of visiting Granada and Alhambra - one of my favourite towns in Spain :-)) morning smiles scross the planet :-))