On our tour of Spain's Andalusia autonomous region, we visited Granada, a beautiful ancient city and home to one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site -- Alhambra.
Construction of Alhambra started in the 13th century on the site of earlier fortresses and continued for a couple of hundred years under the Moors before being taken over by Christians after the conclusion of the Reconquista in 1492. Originally, a self-contained fortress and palace that was separate from Granada, it became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella, and it was here that Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition. Work continued on the site, on and off, but eventually it fell into disrepair and was only rediscovered after the defeat of Napolean whose army had destroyed parts of it. Considerable restoration work has been done subsequently.
It was interesting to walk through Alhambra's well-preserved ruins while enjoying the panoramic views from its hilltop position, but the most memorable feature is the Nasrid palace and its grounds. The architectural detail is astonishing and impossible to fully appreciate in one visit. The American writer, Washington Irving (Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow) who wrote Tales of Alhambra and whose statue is in the grounds, is credited with bringing international attention to the site. Today, Alhambra is one of Spain's most visited sites.
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While Alhambra was more than enough reason to visit Granada, the city itself is charming. We stayed at the Aurea hotel which was across a tiny, but busy, street from the cathedral. We loved its central location and the city's easy walkability (although reaching Alhambra is quite a climb), shops, bars, restaurants, and markets. We dined outdoors and had the most delicious sea bass cooked in salt (an inches thick coating) while watching a Flamenco dance performance (distinctly Andalusian).
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