Cathedral of Granada

This Cathedral is right in the heart of the Muslim area and dates back to 1523. It was one of the first Renaissance churches built in Spain, although it’s original architect wanted the design to be Gothic. The Cathedral ended up with a Gothic style floor plan and a Renaissance dome, and an overall imposing and grand look!

Albaicín Neighborhood

The Albaicín neighborhood can be described as narrow, winding streets that brim with the Medieval Moorish culture of Granada’s past. As one of the oldest parts of Granada, el Albaicín has many points of interest from the Nazari period, and it also was the starting point for a rebellion in 1499. Walking around is a bit of a hike since it was built on the hill facing the Alhambra, but the views from the top are incredible.

Alhambra

The Alhambra is a mixture of palace, fortress, gardens, and a lot of water. But what is so special about water? Water was very precious to the Moors, and in many of their palaces you can see fountains, pools, and ponds, but in the Alhambra there is much more. Small rivets in the marble floors provide paths to follow while long, skinny pools in the Jardines reflect beautiful flowers, and a fountain spitting water out of 12 lions’ mouths portrays power. It’s not just the buildings and grounds that make the Alhambra so popular, but the breathtaking views from all sides, especially from the tall towers you can climb.

A Jewish high official built the first palace in the 11th century, and then in the 13th and 14th centuries it was transformed into the fortress you see today. Other kings then added onto it, but the whole complex was almost destroyed during Napoleon’s invasion of Spain. Luckily, they were able to restore it and today it is one of the most visited sites in all of Spain.