What to see in Granada

Granada is one of the most beautiful cities that exists, any Andalusian say that there is no other that excess it in beauty, magic and mystery. When you visit you'll feel that in every corner you will discover a secret kept in a hurry, probably hidden in the hope of recovering soon.

One of the essences of its mystery is its rich history. It was the capital of the last Hispanic Muslim kingdom and after the Christian conquest, its new rulers wanted to raise it quickly to the rank of old Christian city. These two faces, sometimes conflicting and other time in hand, are very present in all the monuments. This duality arose in a unique landscape, makes of Granada worthy of the title of "city of dreams".

Essential:

To delve into this dreamy city, you can start well with the city, or the Alhambra, as the Alhambra is wonderful because it is in Granada and Granada is what it is because it has the Alhambra.

To visit the Alhambra you should buy the entry with sufficient time in advance, (buy online)  and keep in mind that if you want to take photos without a lot of people, it is recommended to wake up a little early for the first morning shift. The Alhambra is a collection of buildings and palaces added or changed each other over the years to suit current needs. We are therefore surprised at the "chaos" harmonic composed corridors, courtyards and halls.

Besides of the impressive Nazari palaces within the precincts of the Alhambra is The Generalife. It is a combination of gardens, orchards, ponds, fountains, romantic nostalgia recreated and not due to its original image, but that is perfectly suited to our current idea paradise space for pleasure and relaxation.

The Carlos V Palace can be a bit harsh, the first thing you can think of is that Charles V should have been built elsewhere, but this is the contrast that is Granada. Apart from things that can not be changed, the building itself is a marvel of classic architecture of the Italian Renaissance and possibly one of the most beautiful buildings built outside Italy. Observe all the geometric symbolism of perfection of the circle, set in a perfect square. Inside are several important museums like the Museum of the Alhambra, will help to humanize the Alhambra, because there are toys of children who lived there.

If important was the Nazari period, so it was too of the Catholic Kings and the best example is the Royal Chapel next to the Cathedral. Represents the new Granada that was born on January 2, 1492 under the Castilian crown, since the conquest of Granada was one of the most important events of that time, not only for the Catholic Kings, but for the whole Christian Europe. The Christian world had lost a few years before the city of Constantinople, so Granada meant a victory of the Cross over the Crescent. So Ferdinand and Isabella wanted to remain ever present in the last kingdom that joined the New Spain that was born.

Essential is also the district called Albayzín. An unforgettable trip is walking up the Carrera del Darro. Go quiet, slowly, looking around, you’ll have the feeling of living another epoch, though sometimes the traffic is a bit disturbing, in the end you will have the reward of enjoying magnificent views of the Alhambra and Sierra Nevada. 

Descargar PDF's aquí        Descargar MP3

Recomended:

The Cathedral  was built in middle of the Muslim with trace Gothic and became one of most important monuments of Renaissance. It is curious altarpiece, made up of paintings and sculptures that break a bit the image of the typical cathedral altar. 

The Corral del Carbón  is very near the Cathedral. It is an interesting building built in the fourteenth century, whose original purpose was to serve as an inn for merchants who came to town to sell their products.

The Royal Chancery is situated in the Plaza Nueva. King Philip II wanted the building where justice was administered to be according to their function, it makes clear the aristocratic and strong character.

The Santa Ana Church is the first of the churches that rises along the Carrera del Darro, which previously were mosques. The tower, a former minaret, although it seems austere, its elegantly decorated with tiles and moldings. Almost at their feet is the Pilar del Toro, a work attributed to the Renaissance artist Diego of Siloam. This famous fountain was formerly located in Calle Elvira.

La Carreta del Darro is sprinkled on each side, churches, convents, buildings and bridges are very significant. Among them stand out old Arab baths, known as El Bañuelo, the Castril's House, dwhere the façade has a curious Plateresque decoration with a carved stone balcony in one of its corners. Since 1923 is the headquarters of the Provincial Archaeological Museum. There is also the Saint Peter and San Paul Church, rising between riparian vegetation from the river Darro.

The Palace of los Córdova you will find it once you pass the Paseo de los Tristes. It has some very pleasant public gardens in the spacious you can relax and enjoy the excellent views of the Alhambra.

San Juan de Dios exercised charity in sixteenth-century Granada and created the Hospitaller Order which bears his name. The court of the first Hospital of these religious is perhaps one the most beautiful of Granada and the Basílica is next and is the most illustrious example of high baroque to the fullest. Funny as it is decorated with gilded wood base and mirrors. 

The Cartuja is one of the buildings worth visiting and is part of the baroque period. It is very interesting the Sagrario Chapel or Sancta Sanctorum, visible from the back of the church through the canopy of the altar.

Descargar PDF's aquí        Descargar MP3

If you have time:

The Sagrario's Church, as the Chapel Royal, is also attached to the Cathedral. 

The San Jerónimo Monastery, although plundered during the French invasion in the early nineteenth century, it still has interesting works of art worth seeing. The Jeromes were one of the first religious orders who settled once it was conquered the city.

Granada has a good number of interesting churches and palaces. Go to the Basílica Ntra. Sra. de las Angustias, where the patron saint of Granada. walking to the Santo Domingo Church, where you can see a typical painted façade pretending to be carved in stone, is the façade of the Casa de los Tiros inspired by a fortress, but the funny thing is the heart of stone pointed by a sword placed on the lintel of the door with the inscription "He commands."

The Convent of Santa Cruz la Real was founded by the Catholic Kings in thanksgiving for the conquest of the city, the San Idelfonso Church with craft Mudejar roof, is one of the last of the neighborhood Albayzín. The Santos Justo y Pastor Church was the former Jesuit church that was built on the foundations of an ancient mosque.

The Royal Hospital was established in 1504 to serve the poor and sick pilgrims and is currently the headquarters of the General Library University. 

Descargar PDF's aquí        Descargar MP3

If you can:

Enjoy the sunset from the esplanade of the Church of St. Nicholas of the Albayzín and go to a flamenco show in Sacromonte, slope filled of caves where families still live.

When you visit the Church of Santa María de la Alhambra watch the procession of the Virgen de la Alhambra, inspired by Moorish architecture. It is a procession going round the gardens of the Alhambra every Holy week.

If you go to Granada in May and June you're in luck. The festivities of the Corpus is the most important festivals of the city and in Las Cruces, the Granada installs crosses in courtyards and squares decorated with many flowers, and around, drinking, eating and dancing.

Descargar PDF's aquí        Descargar MP3