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).