Spotlight: Homestead Crater; Midway, UT

Spotlight: Homestead Crater is a natural hot springs located in Midway, Utah in Provo Canyon. Simon Schneitter emigrated with his family to Utah from Switzerland as part of a large group of pioneer immigrants from many countries that settled in Midway, Utah to farm the land. "The alpine setting of Midway was reminiscent of Switzerland, making the group of immigrants feel more at home. In 1886, Simon discovered a large, curious-looking rock crater on his farm, with soothing warm mineral water flowing from the rock. It wasn’t long before Simon’s mineral water “Hot Pot” became a local attraction. With the help of his wife Fanny, they began offering meals and attracted even greater crowds. The Schneitters operated the family resort for 67 years where comfort, good food, and the hot water bathing became famous with guests throughout the United States."

The view at the top of Homestead Crater

The view of the vent from inside the crater

Location: 700 North Homestead Drive; Midway, UT

Cost: - Homestead Crater: Swimming in the crater costs $15 M-Th (ages 8+) for a 40-min. swim; and $18 F-Sun. & Holidays (ages 8+); Children (ages 3-7) are $12 M-Th & $15 F-Sun.; Add $8/person if you want to rent snorkeling gear; A 1-hour scuba diving session costs $25 (M-Th) or $30 (F-Sun., Holidays) for certified divers; Non-certified divers can purchase a scuba experience for $150 (gear included; must be 10+ years old) or earn their scuba certificate for $650-$700 (multiple days required to complete)

- Homestead Resort: There are several packages available depending on whether you get a day pass, add daily food and beverage credit, get additional amenities, which room you choose, and whether your visit is on a weekend or week night. Resort packages start at about $200/night on weekdays ($230/night on weekends) but can exceed $1,000/night for a 3-bedroom suite. You can also get a discount with AAA. 

Time: The Homestead Resort is open year-round. The crater is open for swimming from 8:30 am - 10:30 pm (by reservation). Diving hours are from 10:00 am - 8 pm (weekdays) and from 8 am - 8 pm (weekends) - by reservation. 

Description: The resort has a wide variety of rooms to choose from, from family cottages to luxury suites. There are also a couple of dining options on the site: the 1886 Grill Smokehouse (for casual dining) and Simon's Restaurant (for more formal dining), as well as The Milk House for specialty drinks and ice cream. Other amenities on site include: scuba diving, outdoor pools (during summer months), a ski shuttle, meeting rooms, bike rentals and snowmobiling tours. The resort's location in Provo Canyon also offers easy access to several recreational spots including Park City (Olympic Village), Sundance Ski Resort, Soldier Hollow Nordic Center (tubing), and Deer Creek State Park (boating).

Snorklers

The main attraction of the resort is the Homestead Crater - a 55-foot high, beehive-shaped limestone formation. The water in the crater is in the low 90's year round. The pool in the crater is 65 ft. deep and 400 feet wide at the base. Because of its depth, Homestead Crater is the only hot water scuba station in the country. Homestead Crater is one of the few hot springs big enough to actually swim in, and rents snorkeling equipment to those who aren't quite ready to try scuba diving. It also hosts a Stand-up Paddle boarding (including SUP Yoga classes). Of course the most popular activity is to just float and enjoy the soothing effects of the mineral water.

Swimming in the crater

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know:

- Crater soaks must be booked separately from your room reservation. Contact the Homestead Crater to book your soak – 435-657-3840. Reservations are required and should be purchased well in advance of your trip!

- There is no lifeguard on duty, but life vests are required for all swimmers.

- Currently, Homestead Resort is running a special where if you stay for three consecutive nights, the third night is free.

- If you visit Homestead Resort in the winter, make sure that you check out the Midway Ice Castles! These spectacular ice structures are created every winter once the weather is cold enough to support them, and only stay open until the weather gets too warm.

Midway Ice Castles at night

- In addition to skiing, Sundance is also home to the famous Sundance Film Festival, which is usually held the last week of January.

- We ate at Simon's Restaurant, and the food was great.

Nearby: Deer Creek State Park (11 mi. south of Homestead Resort), Soldier Hollow Nordic Center (5 mi. south of Homestead Resort), Park City (18.5 mi. north of Homestead Resort), Sundance Ski Resort (19.5 mi. SW of Homestead Resort, Bridal Veil Falls (19 mi. SW of Homestead Resort)

Nearby Bridal Veil Falls (March)

Spotlight: Yosemite National Park

 Spotlight: Yosemite Valley is the most beautiful 7.5 mile stretch of land in the state of California, and quite possibly the nation. With its magnificent waterfalls, its awesome monoliths of granite, and its stretches of forests and meadows (home to bears, deer, bobcats, and a host of other native plants and animals), Yosemite is simply awe-inspiring. In fact, when photographs of Yosemite Valley, by Carlton Watkins, were sent to Washington D.C., they inspired Pres. Lincoln, in 1864, to sign "the first ever legislation protecting an area based solely on its natural beauty." Although Yosemite was originally placed under the control of the state of California, Yosemite National Park (the first completely national park) was established in 1872 to add greater protection. The park covers 759,620 acres (3,074 km²) and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984. The park protects several groves of giant sequoia trees and draws about 4 million visitors annually.

Half Dome

Location: Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in between Tuolumne and Mariposa counties in central California.

Cost: A one-week pass costs between $20-$35 per vehicle; an annual pass costs $70, but you might as well buy an America the Beautiful annual pass for $80 ($20 for seniors). FYI - the park has gone cashless.

Time: Although the park is open all year, certain sections of the park are only open once the snow is cleared (usually late May or early June, but occasionally later) until it is closed by snowfall again (usually November). Although you can see some of the highlights in a one day visit, several days are necessary in order to get a wide perspective of what the park has to offer. Others can spend years exploring the park.

Description: The Park's top tourist stop is obviously Yosemite Valley. The Valley is home to two iconic granite monoliths: El Capitan and Half Dome. It is also home to several famous waterfalls: Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Bridalveil Fall and Yosemite Falls. Is is also the starting point for a multitude of hiking trails, of variable distances and ability levels. Of course, even if you don't hike, the Valley drive offers great view points of many of the most popular sites. The Valley is also home to Yosemite Village, which is where you'll find most of the amenities that you will need during your stay: dining, lodgings, and souvenirs - but no gas. The park does offer a free shuttle service with stops at the popular tourist spots throughout the valley.

     One of the most popular photo spots in Yosemite is Tunnel View. The viewpoint is located at the entrance of the Wawona Tunnel, located along the Wawona Road - one of the main access roads into the park. The viewpoint offers a spectacular view of Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall.

Tunnel View lookout

     One of the top activities to do in Yosemite is to hike the Mist Trail. Although this trail can be used to hike to the top of Half Dome (about 15 miles), there are other less ambitious destinations. At 0.75 miles, you arrive at the footbridge with an excellent view of Vernal Fall. Shortly past the bridge (0.2 mi.) the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail diverge. If you climb the Mist Trail for another 0.5 miles up a steep granite staircase (600+ steps), you'll reach the top of Vernal Fall. Continuing for another 1.3 miles, you'll reach Nevada Fall. To hike to both waterfalls, plan on about hiking for 5-6 hours.

Vernal Fall

     Another popular hike is the 5-mile round trip Mirror Lake Loop. The lake's calm surface acts like a giant mirror of the awesome mountains and forests that surround it.

Mirror Lake

     The Mariposa Grove at the southern end of Yosemite National Park has a magnificent grove of giant sequoia trees. The Grizzly Giant is estimated to be 3,000 years old, with a circumference of 90 feet. There is also the California Tunnel Tree, which is the only living sequoia tree in the park with a human-made tunnel carved through the middle of the trunk.

     Yosemite Falls are the tallest waterfall (2,425 ft.) in the United States. The waterfall is actually 3 separate falls with the upper fall (1,430 ft.) being the tallest, the middle fall measuring 675 feet and the lower fall only 320 feet. Although visible from many spots within the park, the popular Lower fall trail is a one-mile paved loop that gives hikers several close-up views of this fabulous marvel.

     Yosemite is heaven for rock climbers. Both El Capitan and Half Dome offer a variety of challenging climbs as well as a few spots where novices can safely try out this dangerous sport.

     

Free climbing at the base of El Capitan

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: 

- All National Parks are free on certain dates throughout the Year. These dates may vary from year-to-year, so you might want to check if you are planning just a day trip.

- Yosemite Valley fills up quickly with tourists. It is recommended that you arrive early (before 8 am) in order to avoid waiting hours just to get into the park, and to find a parking spot once your inside.

- Yosemite Valley is accessible via highways 120, 140 and 41.

- There are no gas services in Yosemite Valley, so enter with a full tank. The closest gas station is Crane Flat Gas Station (15 miles west of the park).

Nearby: Sequoia National Park (123 mi. SE of Yosemite), San Francisco (170 mi. west of Yosemite), Devil's Postpile National Monument (50 mi. south of Yosemite), Lake Tahoe (185 mi. north of Yosemite)

Spotlight: Madrid, Spain

Spotlight: Madrid is not only the capital of Spain, it is also its most populous city, with about 3.4 million inhabitants, and 7 million in its metropolitan area. The city lies on the River Manzanares, in the approximate geographical center of the country. Although Madrid's history dates back to prehistoric times, it wasn't a city of any great significance until the Middle Ages. The Muslims built a fortress there in the 9th century to protect the borders of Al-Andalus against incursion by Castilla-Leon. In 1083, it was seized by Alfonso VI as a base to launch a Christian offensive against Muslim-held Toledo. It wasn't until 1202 that Madrid received its first charter to regulate the municipal council. During the early 1500's, Madrid experienced a population boom. However, the city was still little more than a town when Felipe II decided to establish his court in the old Alcazar in June 1561. The move accelerated the city's exponential growth rate as the population soared from 18,000 in 1561 to 80,000 by century's end. Save for a short interval from 1601-1606, when the court was temporarily moved to Valladolid, Madrid has served as Spain's capital city ever since. Thus Madrid was built to be the capital of what was then the largest empire in the world.

 Madrid as seen from the Palace

     Since then, Madrid has suffered its share of invasions or revolts, including: the War of Spanish Succession, the Esquilache Riots, the Dos de Mayo Uprising during the French occupation during the Peninsular War, the Glorious Revolution of 1868, the 1934 Insurrection, and of course the Spanish Civil War. Ironically, Spain's Civil War most likely kept Spain neutral during World War II, allowing the city to rebuild for what has been more than eight decades of relative peace. Following the fall of the Franco regime, the new Constitution of 1978 confirmed Madrid as the capital of Spain. The city is dotted with many wonderful plazas and monuments including: the Plaza Mayor, the Victory Arch, Cybele Fountain, the Neptune Fountain, the Puerta de Alcala, the Plaza de España, the Plaza de Colon (Columbus), Plaza de Oriente, the Temple of Debod, and the Oso y Madrono in the famous Puerta del Sol. Madrid is also home to two world famous football clubs - Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

El Oso y Madrono at Puerta del Sol

Real Madrid Stadium

     Madrid is also famous for its world-class museums, including: the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the National Archeological Museum, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, CaixaForum Madrid, and the Museum of the Americas. The city is also dotted with many fabulous parks. In fact, with more than 8% of the city dedicated to green areas, all of Madrid's citizens have a sizeable park within a 15-minute walk of their home. Some of the most famous include: El Buen Retiro, the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, Parque del Oeste, El Capricho, the Campo del Moro, the Sabatini Gardens, Casa del Campo, and the Monte de El Pardo. Of the many beautiful buildings around the city, my favorite is Cybele Palace. Once the country's national post office, it now serves as the Madrid City Hall and Public Cultural Center.

Cybele Palace

Activities:

Royal Palace of Madrid: Upon his death in 1700, Carlos II, the last Spanish monarch of the Habsburg Dynasty, named his grand-nephew, Felipe V of Anjou (a grandson of King Louis the XIV of France), as his successor. However, many Europeans felt that the throne should have been granted to Archduke Charles of Austria - particularly because they felt that the balance of power in Europe was at stake. The controversy bloomed into the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). After Charles was named the Holy Roman Emperor in 1711, the idea of him also inheriting the throne of Spain became less appealing to some of his allies - particularly England, which withdrew its support. The Treaty of Baden in 1714 brought the conflict to a close, and Felipe V became the first Spanish king of the Bourbon Dynasty. When the Alcazar of Madrid burned down in 1734, Felipe V determined to build a bigger, grander palace on the site, more reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles in his native France. The resulting Royal Palace of Madrid was built between 1738-1755. With 135,000 square meters of floor space, and 3,418 rooms, the Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest royal palace in Europe. Although the palace is the "official residence" of the Spanish Royal Family, the family currently resides at the Palace of Zarzuela when in Madrid, using the Royal Palace to host functions of state. The palace is open to visitors except when it is closed in order to host an official state function. Because of its size, the tour route changes every few months, so you are unlikely to visit the same rooms on a return visit.

The Royal Palace of Madrid

Inside the Royal Palace

Don't forget to look up!

The Changing of the Guard

- Location: Centro, 28071 Madrid

- Hours: 10 am to 6 pm (Mon. to Sat.); 10 am to 3 pm (Sundays)

- Cost: General admission: 14 euros; Reduced admission: 7 euros (children 5-16, senior citizens and students up to age 25 with a valid student ID card)

- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

El Parque de Buen Retiro: The Retiro was set aside as a Royal Retreat in 1505. In fact, it became the center of Habsburg court life during the Spanish Golden Age (1492-1659). Following the "Glorious Revolution" of 1868, the unpopular Queen Isabel II was deposed and a new government was set up. Although the new government only lasted six years, one of the lasting effects of the Revolution was making the queen's gardens into a public park - El Retiro. Located at the edge of the city centre, the park covers 1.4 square kilometers (350 acres), including a wide variety of gardens, monuments, galleries and an artificial lake. One of the most popular activities at the park is taking a rowboat out on the lake by the monument to Alfonso XII. There are also many tours available, including by Segway and horse-drawn carriage. In 2021, the Retiro and nearby Paseo del Prado were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 

Rose Garden in El Retiro

El Palacio de Cristal

Rowboats on the Estanque

- Location: Retiro, 28009 Madrid

- Hours: 6 am to midnight (April - September); 6 am to 10 pm (October - March)

- Cost: free; Rowboats: 6 euros (weekdays), 8 euros (weekends and holidays)

- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Museo del Prado: The Prado is the crowning jewel of Spain's Golden Triangle of Art, together with the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The Prado displays collections of classical European art from the 12th Century to the early 20th Century. The museum was founded in 1819 and contains the single best collection of Spanish art in the world. Among the museum's extensive collection of paintings and sculptures are many fabulous works of art by renowned artists such as Francisco Goya, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velazquez, as well as a large collection of Italian masters, among others. The museum's collection includes 8,200 drawings, 7,600 paintings, 4,800 prints, 1,000 sculptures and various other works as well as historical documents. Of those works, about 1,300 are on display at any given time, while others are on loan to other museums or in storage. The prize of the collection is probably Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, but there are plenty of other masterpieces to choose from.

El Prado

- Location: Retiro, 28014 Madrid

- Hours: 10 am to 8 pm (Mon. to Sat.); 10 am to 7 pm (Sundays)

- Cost: General Admission: 15 euros; reduced admission: 7.50 euros; children 0-18: free 

- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Things You Should Know: 

- The best way to travel around Madrid is by subway. The subway system is fairly easy to navigate once you learn how to read it (no need to know Spanish), and will take you practically anywhere you want to go. Travelling around the city in car would be a nightmare since there aren't any parking lots above ground. If you have a rental car, it is better to leave it parked in the hotel parking lot. Just make sure that you know exactly where you are supposed to park it because you will get heavily fined. I had to pay a 90 euro fine because I was one space off where I was supposed to be.

-Every Sunday from late May through early October, the Retiro hosts a free midday concert by the Symphonic Band of Madrid at the bandstand located near Calle de Alcala. Sunday is usually the most crowded day throughout the year, with a multitude of street performers practicing their craft.

- If you shop around, there are special offers available that allow you to visit 2 or more venues at reduced rates.

Nearby: Segovia - My favorite Spanish city (91.5 km NW of Madrid); Toledo - the sword-making capital of Spain (72.5 km south of Madrid); Castillo de Manzanares - a beautiful medieval castle (52.7 km north of Madrid), Alcala de Henares - birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes (40.4 km east of Madrid), Aranjuez - site of another beautiful Royal Palace (53.4 km south of Madrid)

Miguel de Cervantes' Home in Alcala de Henares

Spotlight: Granada, Spain

 Spotlight: Granada is located in Andalusia at the confluence of four rivers (the Darro, Genil, Monachil & Beiro) at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, 738 meters above sea level. The city was settled by Iberians, Romans and Visigoths prior to the arrival of the Moors. At the beginning of the 11th century, the area of Granada became heavily populated by the Zirids - a Sanhaja Berber group from north Africa. Under Nasrid rule, Granada became one of the major cities of al-Andalus, where Muslims, Jews and Christians co-existed peacefully for many years. As the Muslim empire was gradually taken over by the Christian kingdoms, many displaced Muslims sought refuge at Granada, creating a densely populated Muslim state that sometimes warred with its Christian neighbors, and at times allied with them. When Ibn al-Ahmar became the ruler of Granada, he moved his royal palace to the Sabika Hill and in 1238 AD began construction of La Alhambra - a self-contained palace city with its own mosque, fortress and residential quarters for servants. The Alhambra complex continued to expand through the years as new palaces were built to replace older ones. During the last war between the Muslims and Christians on the Iberian Peninsula, the fortress of La Alhambra in Granada became the last bastion of Muslim rule in western Europe. On January 2, 1492, Emir Muhammad XII officially surrendered the city to the Catholic Monarchs - Fernando II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castilla. Once the surrender was complete, the Monarchs issued the Alhambra Decree on March 31, 1492. This decree was an attempt to unite all their territories under one flag and one religion, creating the modern country of Spain. It demanded that all Jews and Muslims living within Spanish borders had to convert to Christianity or pack up and leave. Most of the rich families left, many seeking refuge in north Africa or other sympathetic countries. Those too poor to leave were obliged to "convert," though many continued to practice their religion in secret. This eventually led to the Spanish Inquisition, employed to root out the false converts throughout the nation. Meanwhile, Fernando and Isabel set up residence in the city. After they died, they were buried in the Royal Chapel of Granada, where their tombs remain to this day.

Granada

Activities:

The Alhambra: Abdallah Ibn al-Ahmar established the Nasrid Dynasty at the Emirate of Granada - the longest-lasting Muslim dynasty in the Iberian Peninsula. In 1238, following the fall of Cordoba to Christian forces, he decided to strengthen the defenses of Granada by building a fortified palace on Sabika Hill. Over the next 250 years, the Alhambra was transformed into a palatine city, complete with aqueducts that supplied the mountain top with an adequate supply of fresh water. Over the centuries, the caliphs continually added to the complex, building new palaces and converting the older ones into ornate governmental buildings or housing for other important individuals.

The Alhambra on Sabika Hill

The Fortress

The gardens and fountains

     As the other Islamic strongholds of Andalucía fell to the Christian monarchs, Granada became the last stronghold of the Islamic forces in Europe. In December of 1491, the Catholic monarchs, Fernando and Isabel, marched into Granada accompanied by an army of overwhelming numbers. Rather than fight a prolonged battle, Muhammad XII, the Caliph of Granada, signed the Treaty of Granada, allowing the Alhambra to be spared a brutal attack. Upon the exodus of the Islamic forces, Fernando and Isabel took possession of the citadel.

Palace of Carlos V

Sculptured wall

Mudejar architecture

     The Alhambra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Although some of the ancient structures have long since been replaced, the complex currently contains: the Alcazaba (fortress), a fortified wall with 13 defensive towers, the Palace of Carlos V, Comares Palace, the Palace of the Lions, Partal Palace, the Palace of Abencerrajes, the Palace of the Convent of San Francisco, Generalife Palace, and numerous plazas, gates, towers and gardens. The geometrically themed artwork on the walls, which was carved or painted by hand, is absolutely exquisite.

Comares Palace

Palace of the Lions

Patio of the Lions

- Location: C. Real de la Alhambra, s/n, Centro, 18009 Granada

- Hours: 8:30 am to 8 pm (Apr. 1 - Oct. 14); 8:30 am to 6 pm (Oct. 15 - Mar. 31); However, night tours are available.

- Cost: $15.38; however, most visitors prefer to take a 3-4 hour guided tour which adds about $30/ticket

- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Royal Chapel: In 1504, the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castilla, made a royal decree, declaring that they were to be buried in Granada. The Royal Chapel was built next to the Cathedral where the Great Mosque of Granada once stood. Enrique Egas was chosen as the architect, and the chapel was built between 1506 to 1521, using the Isabelline Gothic style. The chapel houses the tombs of Fernando, Isabel, their daughter Juana "La Loca" and her husband Felipe "El Hermoso." In addition to the tombs, the Sacristy - Museum is home to a treasury of artwork and religious relics, as well as many personal items belonging to the Royals.

Granada Cathedral and Royal Palace

Tomb of Fernando II and Isabel I

- Location: Calle Oficios, s/n, 18001 Granada

- Hours: 10 am to 6:30 pm (Mon. - Sat.); 11 am to 6:30 pm (Sunday)

- Cost: General - 5 euros; seniors & students - 2.5 euros; children under 10 - free

- Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sacromonte: The Sacromonte is a neighborhood on the eastern side of Granada - one of 6 urban neighborhoods that make up the urban district of Albayzin. The Sacromonte is located on the hillside of the valley of Vaparaiso (opposite of the Alhambra) along the banks of the Darro River. Following the Christian conquest of Granada, this neighborhood was settled by the Romani - a large ethnic group in Spain, often referred to as "gitanos" (gypsies). The name Sacromonte (Sacred mountain) comes from an event in the 1590's, when the "Lead Books of Sacromonte" were discovered. The Lead Books, written with undecipherable Latin and Arabic characters, were believed to be a lost book of scripture, but were later declared a forgery. Nevertheless, they can still be viewed in the Abbey of Sacromonte.

El Sacromonte

     Although the Sacromonte is only one of many Romani neighborhoods in Andalusia, it is one of the most unique. The neighborhood is home to many enclosed cave dwellings, installed within whitewashed caves. Since the caves were outside the city walls, they also fell outside the city's administrative and ecclesiastical control, and thus became an asylum for Muslims and Jews trying to escape the Spanish Inquisition. The size of the dwellings varied immensely from "house" to "house" since the terrain and altitude affected how deep each cave could be dug, so the number and size of the rooms were indeterminable from the outside.

Typical Cave-House

     The Cave-House Museum of Sacromonte encompasses 4,800 square meters and has a collection of 11 separate cave-house dwellings, which recreate the cave dwellings as they would have been maintained by their original inhabitants. Inside the cave-houses, visitors can peruse the various dwellings which portray typical kitchens, bedrooms, living areas, stables and workshops that highlight traditional trades and crafts of the era: basketry, ceramics, blacksmiths, weavers, etc. There is also a cave dedicated to Flamenco - the popular Andalusian dance developed and performed by the Romani. 

Living area

Bed chamber

Kitchen

Basket weaver workshop

- Location: Barranco de los Negros, s/n (acceder por, C. Verea de Enmedio, 18010 Granada

- Hours: 10 am to 6 pm (Oct. 15-Mar. 14); 10 am to 8 pm (Mar. 15-Oct. 14)

- Cost: General - 5 euros

- Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Things you should know: 

- The Alhambra often sells out weeks ahead of time, so you will probably want to buy your tickets ahead of time.

- The best place to watch Flamenco dancing is Andalusia, since that is where this art form was born.

Nearby: Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada - 38 km east of Granada; Malaga - a large city located on the Mediterranean Sea (126 km SW of Granada); Cordoba - the Islamic capital of Spain during the height of Al-Andalus (161 km NW of Granada); Antequera - a typical Andalusian city (101 km west of Granada).

Spotlight: Córdoba, Spain

Spotlight: Cordoba was conquered by Rome in 206 BC, and many remnants of Roman life remain in evidence today. After the fall of Rome, the Visigoths took over until the 8th century AD, when the Muslims invaded the peninsula and made Cordoba the capital of the Umayyad Dynasty. Under Muslim rule, Cordoba thrived. It not only became the second largest city in Europe, it was also the best educated. Cordoba was home to more than 80 libraries and institutions of learning, creating a center of learning that far exceeded the rest of Europe in medicine, astronomy, mathematics and botany. Cordoba continued to thrive until 1009 AD, when internal strife within Al-Andalus broke into a long period of civil war between competing caliphs. Eventually, the Caliphate was replaced by an Oligarchic Republic. In 1236, the city fell to the Christian forces under Fernando III of Castilla, adding the prize city of Andalusia to the growing kingdom of Castilla-Leon. The Great Mosque of Cordoba was so grand that the conquering Christians broke with tradition. Rather than tear it down, as was the common practice of conquered mosques, the Christians converted it into a cathedral, while retaining much of its Muslim décor. The result is the Mezquita-Catedral - the most unique cathedral in all of Spain.

Activities:

La Mezquita-Catedral: The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, AKA the Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption, is supposed to be built on the site of an old Visigoth church known as the Basilica of Vincent of Saragossa (mid-sixth century). The Great Mosque was built in 785 AD by Abd al-Rahman, the founder of the Emirate of Cordoba. The Minaret was added in 958. When Christian forces under the command of the Crown of Castile captured the city in 1236, they decided to leave the magnificent structure intact, and convert it into a cathedral. However, it wasn't until the 16th century that a Renaissance style nave and transept, called Villaviciosa Chapel, were inserted into the center of the massive structure.

La Mezquita-Catedral (as seen from the bell tower)

The excavated Basilica in the
basement of the Great Mosque

        To enter the complex, visitors pass through the "Door of Forgiveness" (next to the Minaret). From there, you pass through the Orange Tree Courtyard to enter the Mosque Cathedral. The cathedral, which still holds mass daily, is a study in contrasts. The center section has been decorated in the Catholic style, with paintings and statues of saints, angels, cherubs and of course a crucifix of Jesus. Meanwhile, the structure surrounding the central cathedral retains the décor of an Islamic mosque, decorated with geometric patterns including the iconic candy cane style arches. The orange trees were planted by Bishop Francisco Reinoso in rows as a continuation of the columns in the prayer hall. The Minaret was converted into a bell tower, which has been restored at various times due to storms and earthquakes. From the Minaret, you can get a great view of the cathedral from above as well as the surrounding city. Today, the whole complex has been designated an World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The iconic "candy cane" arches

The cathedral

The Bell Tower Minaret

- Location: C. Cardenal Herrero, º 1, Centro, 14003 Córdoba

- Hours: 10 am to 7 pm (Mon. - Sat.; March to October); 10 am to 6 pm (Mon. - Sat.; November to February); 8:30 am to 11:30 am & 3 pm to 6 pm (Sundays)

- Cost: 13 euros; 10 euros for students (15-26) and senior citizens (65+);7 euros for children ages 10-14; The Bell Tower costs an additional 3 euros

- Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos: This fortress was built in 1328, on orders of Alfonso XI of Castilla, to replace the Islamic-era Umayyad Alcazar. Although the fortress only incorporates a small portion of the previous alcazar, Alfonso decided to use the same Mudejar style, giving the Alcazar its Islamic appearance. It later served as one of the primary residences of Fernando II of Aragon and Isabel, the so-called Catholic Monarchs, for whom the fortress is named. The Monarchs used the Alcazar as one of the first permanent tribunals during the Spanish Inquisition. It also served as their home base of operations for their final thrust into Granada in their effort to defeat the Muslim forces there. In 1486 or 1487, the Alcazar hosted the first meeting between Christopher Columbus and the monarchs regarding his plan to establish a trade route with India by sailing west. With the ongoing war between the Christians and the Muslims, they initially turned him down, but he returned following the fall of Granada, initiating the voyage that would change the course of history. One of the best things about the Alcazar are the gardens, which many beautiful plants, fountains and statues. The fortress is part of the Historic Centre of Cordoba, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

Exploring the walls

Fountains in the courtyard

The gardens

Statue commemorating the meeting
between Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs

- Location: C. Caballerizas Reales, s/n, Centro, 14004 Córdoba

- Hours: June 16 - Sept. 15: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm (Tues. - Sat.); Sept. 16 - June 15: 8:30 am to 8 pm (Tues. - Sat.); 8:30 am to 2:30 pm (Sun. & bank holidays); closed Mondays

- Cost: 5 euros; 2.5 euros for students and senior citizens (65+);children ages 0-13 are free

- Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The Roman Bridge: The Roman bridge that spans the Guadalquivir River was originally built in the first century BC as part of the Via Augusta that connected Rome with Cadiz. Although it has been reconstructed several times, it retains the same style as the original bridge. Most of the current structure dates back to the Arab reconstruction in the 8th century. However, the 14th and 15th arches remain from the original construction. In the center of the bridge is a 16th century shrine and statue of Saint Rafael, created by Bernabe Gomez del Rio. On the southern end of the bridge stand the Calahorra Tower, erected in 1333 to protect access to the bridge. On the northern end is the Puerta del Puente (Door of the Bridge), a Renaissance Gate built in the 16th century to commemorate the visit of King Felipe II. It was constructed on the site where the original Roman gates stood at the entrance to the city. The bridge, tower and Puerta are all part of the Historic Centre of Cordoba - a World Heritage Site. The bridge was the only one that served the city for two millennia, until the San Rafael Bridge was built in the mid-20th Century. Since 2004, the bridge has been converted into a pedestrian bridge.

The Roman bridge

La Puerta del Puente

Walking toward the Calahorra Tower

- Location: Av. del Alcázar, s/n, Sur, 14009 Córdoba

- Hours: open all day every day

- Cost: free

- Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Medina Azahara: The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archeological site also known as Madinat al-Zahra. The archeological dig is uncovering the original capital city of the Caliphate of Cordoba. Medina Azahara, "The Shining City," lasted for less than a century before being destroyed in a civil war that occurred in 1009-1010 AD. The remains of the city, which are located on the western outskirts of Cordoba, were discovered in the early 20th century. Archeologists are discovering a treasure trove of information regarding life in the Western Islamic Civilization of Al-Andalus at its peak since it has remained underground and untouched over the past millennium. Thus far, only about 10% of the city has been excavated in an organized, methodical way. Visitors can view the plethora of artifacts that have already been uncovered and read about how life was in the Caliphate 1,000 years ago.

Madinat al-Zahra

archeological dig

Remnants of Medina Azahara

- Location: Ctra. Palma del Río, km 5, 5, 14005 Córdoba

- Hours: 9 am to 6:30 pm (Tues. - Sat.; closing times vary depending on the season); 9 am to 3:30 pm (Sundays and bank holidays); closed on Mondays

- Cost: 1.5 euros; guided tours - 18 euros

- Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Things You Should Know:

- In the middle of Cordoba, you can see the remains of an old Roman Temple.

Roman Temple

- Mondays are often a bad day for tourists in Spain. Many tourist sites are closed. When planning a visit to Spain, it is a good idea to plan your Mondays first based on what is going to be open.

Nearby: El Caminito del Rey - a fabulous hike (153 km south of Cordoba); Antequera - a typical Andalusian city 120 km south of Cordoba); Sevilla - Spain's most important city during its colonial days (145 km SW of Cordoba); Parque Natural Sierra de Hornachuelos - Natural Mountain Park (65 km west of Cordoba); Granada - home to La Alhambra (173 km SE of Cordoba).