Tour to Granda, Spain

Yesterday we went on a guided tour to Granada which is 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Málaga.  Granda is in Andalusia, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and home to over 472,000 making it the 13th largest urban area in Spain.

Sierra Nevada mountains

Granada has been inhabited for at least 2500 years.  It's been home to the Greeks, the Romans, the Visigoths, and the Byzantine Empire.  The Moors took the city in 711 AD until the Reconquista ended Islamic rule in 1492.

Our tour was actually of the Alhambra with only about an hour for a whirlwind glimpse of the city.  What we saw of the city looked great.  Next time, I want to stay in Granada.



The Alhambra is the city's claim to fame.  In 1984 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



It started out as a small fortress in 889 AD that was built on top former Roman fortifications.  It was rebuilt in the mid 13th century and in 1333 it was converted into a royal palace.  It's a combination palace, citadel and fortress that overlooks the city.











In 1492, the King and Queen of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabela, made it their home.  This is were Christopher Columbus asked for and received funding for his 1492 expedition.


The entire complex is quite impressive with lovely gardens.  It's quite interesting to see such Islamic architecture and design in Spain but then again the Moors were on the Iberian Peninsula for roughly 800 years.  

Here's a Rick Steven video I found on YouTube that talks about Alhambra.

©Rick Steves