Cactus Language Blog

The allure of Granada

Posted by simonager under Cactus Languages Abroad, Learning a language

Granada is a city located near the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalusia in southern Spain. Between 711 and 1492 it was ruled by Moors and their influence can still be seen, especially in the architecture.

The number one draw for visitors to Granada is the Alhambra or Calat-Al-Hama (The Red Castle). This is a beautiful series of palaces and gardens built during the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th century. Within the Alhambra complex there is also the Palacio de Generalife summer palace of Granada Nasrid sultans, and Charles V’s huge palace, a fine example of Spanish Renaissance architecture.

Granada’s position at the base of the Sierra Nevada means that you can, if you choose, go skiing in the mountains in the morning, and go down to the beach in the afternoon. The climate is warm throughout the year with relatively little rain, so is an ideal place to visit if you want to escape from the cold and damp of a northern autumn.

Flamenco dancing and music developed in Granada among the city’s gypsy population in the caves of Sacromonte, and you can see flamenco performances throughout the year in those caves. You could even combine Spanish language classes with flamenco lessons.

Granada’s historic Islamic quarter, El Albaicín / El Albayzín, is well worth a visit. It contains medieval houses, mosques and baths on steep, narrow, winding streets, Granada’s archaeological museum, and has wonderful views of the Alhambra on the hill opposite.

There are numerous bars, cafés, restaurants and nightclubs where you can sample Granada’s lively nightlife, and in some bars you can even get free tapas with your drinks.

For those with an interest in history, Granada is an interesting place to visit as the site of the city has been occupied since at least 2,000 BC. The original inhabitants were probably the Celtiberians, who were followed by Phoenicans, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Byzantinians, Jews, and Moors, who ruled the area from AD 711 to 1492. It was during the Islamic period that Granada became one of the richest and most dynamic cities in Spain, full of traders, craftsmen and scientists.

Next to Granada’s cathedral, you can find the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel), an impressive, Gothic style mausoleum for Spain’s most famous monarchs, King Fernando de Aragón and Queen Isabel de Castilla, as well as Queen Juana, their daughter, and her husband Philip the Handsome (Felipe El Hermoso), and the Infante Miguel, one of their grandsons.

About the author
Simon Ager runs a company that provides information and advice about languages mainly via the website www.omniglot.com.

Tags:Alhambra, city, flamenco, Granada, location, spain, Spanish