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Granada
In 1492, the same year Columbus 'discovered' America for the Spanish throne, this last Moorish stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula was captured and the Arabs had to leave behind one of the most marvellous medieval palaces ever built, the Alhambra of Granada. Protected by the Alcazaba fortress, the walls and ceiling of the palace's rooms are incredibly ornate and beautiful and its patios are harmonious and graceful. On the same hill, the Generalife summer palace is most known for its lush gardens. In the town itself, the charming Albaicín (Albayzin) quarter features Arab baths and old houses on narrow streets. Granada also has several interesting churches, such as the Baroque church of the Carthusian monastery (La Cartuja).
Just to the southeast rises the Sierra Nevada range, which contains a ski resort and the highest peak in continental Spain, Mulhacén (3482 m). Part of the Sierra Nevada has recently been declared a national park. Some picturesque villages can be found on the range's southern slopes. |
