Granada Tourism

Granada, capital of Granada province and part of Andalucia.

Size: 87.8km2
Population: 234.325 (2009)

Its history in brief

The oldest remains found in Granada date from the sixth century BC.

The Romans founded the city under the name: Illibris. Its current name, Granada, was given by the Muslims in the seventh century.
In the fourteenth century under the command of kings Yusuf I and Muhammad V the Alhambra and Generalife were built.

In 1492, after the conquest of Granada by the Catholic kings a new structure was put in place.

Kings Juana la Loca and Carlos V invested large amounts of money in the maintenance and repair of the Alhambra and other historical buildings. In 1565 king Felipe decided to banish the Islam from the city resulting in the destruction of many building and the conversion of mosque into catholic churches.

Today the day this city is visited by many tourists from all over the world. The Alhambra and its El Albaycín neighbourhood are known worldwide and are both World Heritage monuments.

What to see in Granada

Thanks to its rich history that are many important monuments in Granada. Some of which:

• The Alhambra €“ Easily attracts about 2 million visitors per year and the most visited monument in Spain. This monument comprises of the Nazaries Palaces, the Alcazaba (Fortress) and the Generalife gardens.
• Albaicín neighbourhood €“ a trip to Granada's Moorish history, a maze of narrow streets perfumed with various flowers and giving you amazing views of the Alhambra from its various viewing points.
• Sacromonte neighborhood- famous for its caves where gypsies still celebrate Flameno parties with song and dans. This neighbourhood is the spot where gypsies, travelling with the catholic kings, settled after the concurring of the city in 1492.
• Visit the science museum "Parque de las Ciencias" €“ a very extensive museum on planetary astronomy, the human body, biosphere, Al-Andalus, butterflies and lots more.
• The catedral and the Capilla Real
• El Bañuelo €“ Arabic baths from the sixth centruy, a well maintained monument situated underneath a house, at the foot of the Alhambra.
  

Popular holidays

• January 1st €“ Mosto feast, the visitor just needs to by a ceramic cup which will be refilled for free. The party starts at 12.00 in the morning.
• January 2nd €“ Celebration of the concurring of Granada, on this day the catholic kings concurred Granada in 1492.
• February 1st - Romeria (Spanish pilgrims trek with lots of partying, wine and music) leading to the Sacromonte neighborhood to honor the patron saint of Granada: San Cedilio there
• End of March or early April. - Semana Santa (Holy week, Easter)
• On May 3rd the feast of the Crosses (las Cruces) is celebrated €“ Crosses are erected in the courtyards of the houses and in the squares of the city.
• The first week of June - the Granada Feria (fair) and the procession of the Corps Christi. The city's annual large party.
• The first Sunday in August - the Romeria of la Virgin de las Nieves
• June 29th €“ the Albaycín and San Pedro neighborhood parties.
• September 15th €“ flower offers are made in honor of the Holy Virgin: Virgen de las Angustias
• The last Sunday in September is the procession of the Holy Virgin "La Virgen de las Angustias"

Gastronomy

The dishes from Granada are according to traditional Andalucian styles. Some dishes are typical for this city such as: Las gachas pimentoneras (a thick fish and paprika based soup), las Migas (a bread or cornflour based single pot dish), las papas a lo pobre (potates fried with onions, garlic and pepers), la olla de San Antón (a single pot dish, type of should with meat, string beans).
Granada is well known for its tapas, normally with every drink you have in a bar you receive a tapa for free. Typical tapas bars in Granada are: La Antigua Bodega Castañeda (in C/ Elvira, 5), La Trastienda (in C/ Cuchilleros, 11), Los Diamantes 1 (in C/ Navas, 26), etc.

Of course Granada also offers you restaurants with national and international dishes. Restaurants with traditional andalucian food are; La Metáfora, in el Realejo, el Aben Humeya, in el Albaycín, el restaurante San Nicolás, etc.