Granada

Andalusia

Andalusia is one of the architecturally and historically most beautiful and most interesting of parts of Europe. Moreover, Granada is a city of beauty and contrast. “Who did not see Granada, did not see anything,” says proverb. Andalusia is the southern province of Spain. It is land of bullfights, flamenco, guitars, Moorish buildings and olive groves.

For people from northern Europe, Andalusia is Costa del Sol or Sunshine Coast. They see it as place packed with tanned tourists from Britain, Scandinavia, and Germany. However, this is only partially correct. Andalusia is all that, but it is also and much more than that.

Andalusia is not only attractive because of its southern region. Hundred kilometers away from attractive beach hotels are old towns such as Granada, Cordoba, Malaga, and Seville. These cities are an inevitable part of world cultural heritage. During the summer, there are many tourists, who are exploring these magnificent places.

History

After the fall of the Roman Empire and the early medieval Germanic states (Visigoths, Alana, Sveva, Vandals), European continent was conquered by the Arabs or Saracens, as they were called then. On the territory of the former state The Moors founded their Caliphate Al-Andaluz with the capital city of Granada.

By the end of XV century, only one city stayed under the Muslims. That was Christian Iberia, as Christians called Granada. Therefore, you can find many Moorish characteristics in ethnic composition of the population, cuisine, customs, music, architecture.

Alhambra

The castle Alhambra is one of Moorish architectural wonders. It is placed on a hill above the town, surrounded by woods and parks. It is built of red stones. Alhambra is standing for centuries in the foothills of Sierra Nevada. When you climb to the Alhambra you can witness an impressive scene with mighty mountains in the background. This trip to the top can be strenuous and arduous. Therefore, the agile Spanish tourist workers provide great number of buses that drive to the top for several minutes. But if you use a taxi, you will not be able to enjoy in many small shops in the narrow streets that lead up to the top. In those shops you can buy many souvenirs such as T-shirts with the inscription of “Granada” and “Alhambra”, postcards, ceramics etc. However, as you are getting closer to the top the prices are getting higher, as well.

Alhambra is a very complex set of palaces, royal residences, courtyards, palm trees, orchards and lime trees. It presents the Islamic perception of beauty. It is the highest level of Arab art in Europe, and as such is unavoidable destination. After re-occupation of Spain by Catholic kings Fernando and Isabella I, the most famous rulers in the history of the Spanish, this jewel of culture and architecture was neglected for centuries and served mainly as a camp for Gypsies.