| Granada, Costa Tropical Spain, Property & Tourist Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Granada The city of Granada is a cosmopolitan, modern, artistic, & fashionable city with a rich cultural heritage. It is also one of Spain's leading university cities with a large student populace, & is the most symbolic site of Catholic Spain's struggle with the Moors (Arabs). Indeed Granada was the capital of the last Muslim state on the Iberian peninsular; Al-Andaluz. The result is a heritage unique from that of other European cities. This draws crowds from all over the world, coming to see the remnants of a lost empire, many famous monuments, & to savour in the ambience, cuisine, & other delights of this beautiful city. Geography & Facts Granada is the capital of its province & has a populace of 250-350,000 people, depending on whether its extended suburbs are included. The province of Granada is sandwiched in-between the Costas del Sol & Almeria; all of which are in the larger autonomous community of Andalucia. The area it covers includes 60 kilometres of coastline (known as the Costa Tropical), 168 municipalities, & many acres of fertile land growing many types of produce; including tropical fruits & sugar cane. It is also the main access point for the Sierra Nevada mountain range; boasting Spain's highest peak (Mulhacen), Europes southern-most ski resort, & a host of national parks. Sights & attractions It is difficult to know where to begin when summarising Granada's attractions. Suffice to say that there is something here for everyone. The main tourist draw for the city is the Alhambra; a Moorish citadel constructed under the Nasrid dynasty that ruled in Granada until the 15th century AD. The Alhambra remains the last & finest example of Moorish art & architecture in Europe, & for this it is unique. Among the other treasures left behind by the Moors are the city's Arab baths, open to the public & today the setting for music & dance events, such as belly dancing. The Albayzin is the ancient Jewish-Arabic neighborhood of Granada. Its layout has remained relatively untouched over the years & it is prized for this above all else. This area is the best place to come if you are looking for an Arabic tea house (Teteria), or to pick up a traditional souvenir. Granada's university pulls in many students on an annual basis, which has created the demand for varied evening entertainment. This means Granada is a good place to come for a night out. Alongside the bars & clubs are a wealth of dining options, theatres, live music/dance venues, & more. Getting around The best way to experience Granada's most central areas is on foot, & as much of it is pedestrianised this is probably also the most direct method of crossing the city. Unless traveling outside Granada visitors are unlikely to need the train, instead there are regular bus services running to all main destinations. The best place to pick one up (other than at the central bus station) is at one of the city's many squares. As well as the local routes there are a multitude of buses in operation ferrying people to & from the main attractions, & around the city in open top tourist bus format. Cuisine Granada is an excellent place to come if looking to savour traditional Spanish cuisine, with a multitude of restaurants & tapas bars present throughout the city centre. Of course international tastes are also catered for. One good thing about the province of Granada is that it is customary to receive a plate of tapas free with every drink. The quantity & quality of food does vary, but more often than not consists of a mixture of fresh bread, ham, cheese, olives, & nuts. Shopping There are as many shopping opportunities in Granada as anywhere else in southern Spain; with enough middle-high end retail outlets to keep shopaholics interested. Alongside this are a multitude of markets & department stores. However for shops that are slightly more unique to the area (or perhaps more directly aimed at tourists) it is best to walk along the river (from Plaza Nueva) towards Albayzin & in view of the Alhambra; here visitors will find an array of authentic looking shops selling Arabic wares. History in brief The area around Granada was inhabited by early man, of this traces have been found. Eventually an Iberian-Celtic tribe settled & began to trade with the Phoenicians, who established trading ports along the coastline. They were followed by the Carthaginians, & then the ancient Greeks; who formed a colony under the name Elybirge. The cities strategic importance was recognised by the Romans who fortified the town & renamed it Iliberis. This tradition was carried on by the Visigoths, & they further maintained Granada's importance as a centre for civil administration & authority. The city was first conquered by the Moors in 711 AD, calling it Ilbira. It was to become the capital of a province ruled by the Caliphate of Cordoba; an immensely powerful Muslim state that controlled much of Spain. The caliphate collapsed in the 11th century after a series of internal power struggles & pressure from Christian Europe to the North. The Moors were pushed farther south resulting in a concentration of their peoples in what was to become the kingdom of Al-Andaluz (modern Andalucia). This caused their southern cities to grow, & in the case of Ilbira the incorporation of a neighborhood called Garnata; which is where Granada got it's name. From 1232-1492 the Moorish sultanate & kingdom of Granada (in the earlier years incorporating Al-Andaluz) was ruled by the Nasrid dynasty. They were incredibly successful, maintaining an almost totally Muslim state, & responsible for building a great many important structures, including the Alhambra palatial fortification; in which they lived. However as time passed their kingdoms borders were constantly pushed back by the growing forces of Spain's Christian kings. Until eventually just the city of Granada remained, & in 1492 they were expelled from the peninsular completely; thus ending an 800 year long stay of Islamic power in Europe. After the expulsion of the Moors Granada's history is relatively synonymous with that of the rest of southern Spain. First & foremost the city's mosques were turned into churches, & over the years many Moorish structures were altered or demolished. Still much of the Arab heritage remains, & it is this which makes Granada unique among European cities. Climate The climate in Granada is different from that of other towns within the province that are nearer to the coast. This is mainly to to do with Granada being much higher above sea level. However its summers are pretty similar boasting average highs of 30°C (86°F). It is the winter months that can be significantly cooler; though usually sunny the nights are cold, & in the coldest months temperatures can plummet as far as freezing point. Granada Tourist Office Telephone +34 958 225217 Fax +34 958 223174
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Granada, Costa Tropical, Andalucia, Spain. Granada Accommodation, Holiday, Property, and Tourist Information. Granada places to visit, tourism, flights, car hire, apartment sales, villa sales, and rental. |