Granada is the capital of the province of Granada, located in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain. The ancient city is situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, Beiro, Darro and Genil. It is a tourist hot spot, mainly due to the presence of Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, often referred to as the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian historical legacy. Granada is also well known as a student’s city, owing to the presence of the prestigious University of Granada.

Main attractions :

The Alhambra palace

The Alhambra the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, occupying the top of the hill of the Assabica on the southeastern border of the city of Granada, now in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

The Alhambra’s Moorish palaces were built for the last Muslim Emirs in Spain and its court, of the Nasrid dynasty. After the Reconquista by the Los Reyes Católicos (”The Catholic Monarchs”) in 1492 some portions were used by the Christian rulers. The Palace of Charles V, built by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1527, was inserted in the Alhambra within the Nasrid fortifications. After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was “discovered” in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers, with restorations commencing. It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country’s most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Palace of Charles V

The Palace of Charles V is located on the top of the hill of the Assabica, inside the Nasrid fortification of the Alhambra. It was commanded by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who wished to establish his residence close to the Alhambra palaces. Although the Catholic Monarchs had already altered some rooms of the Alhambra after the conquest of the city in 1492, Charles V intended to construct a permanent residence befitting an emperor. The project was given to Pedro Machuca, an architect whose biography and influences are poorly understood. At the time, Spanish architecture was immersed in the Plateresque style, still with traces of Gothic origin. Machuca built a palace corresponding stylistically to Mannerism, a mode still in its infancy in Italy. Even if accounts that place Machuca in the atelier of Michelangelo are accepted, at the time of the construction of the palace in 1527 the latter had yet to design the majority of his architectural works.

Granada Cathedral

Granada Cathedral was built by Queen Isabella immediately after the conquest of Granada on the site of the Mosque. This Cathedral is a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance style. Cathedral of Granada has impressive façades and a stunning interior with a grand altar and several chapels. In the burial chamber are the tombs of the Catholic kings.

The first stone of the Cathedral of Granada was laid in 1523 on the site of the ancient mosque. Its architect was Enrique Egas, master of the Old Gothic School. These works, concentrating on the foundations, lasted five years.

Granada Charterhouse

The Charterhouse is a Carthusian monastery in Granada. It is one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque architecture.It was founded in 1506; construction started ten years later, and continued for the following 300 years. While the exterior is a tame ember in comparison, the interior of the monastery’s is a flamboyant explosion of ornamentation. Its complex echoing geometric surfaces make of it one of the masterpieces of Churrigueresque style. The most striking features include the tabernacle, constructed to a design by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo, the church and the famous sacristy, built between 1727 and 1764 by Luis de Arévalo and F. Manuel Vasquez.

Archaeological Museum of Granada

The Archaeological Museum of Granada is located at 41, Carrera del Darro in the Castril palace from the 16th century. It hosts many artefacts from the many different civilizations that settled in Granada including the Carthaginians, the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Arabs.

The Museum is housed in a particularly attractive mansion, which features a Renaissance-style façade and detailed period features. Highlights at this museum include many local artefacts from the area, archaeological finds and treasures discovered during excavations, and information and plans of nearby Roman remain.

The Museum of Fine Arts

Granada’s premier art gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes) is home to many important works, dating from the 16th century onwards. Standing on the Alhambra hill, the museum features many outstanding religious paintings, sculptures and ornate plasters. Part of the Palace of Carlos V, the gallery also features a number of 20th-century paintings and an extensive art-related library.

Best Time to Visit: February to April and September to November.