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City Overview
Population: 300,000
Location: Southern part of Spain (Andalusia)
Granada is the capital of the province with the
same name, situated in the eastern part of Andalusia. The land is
characterised by geographical and scenic diversity. The coastal
area features a warm climate as opposed to the much cooler mountainous
regions where we find the 3,481 meter Mulhacén, the biggest
peak on the peninsula of Spain. Located at the foot of the sierra
Nevada mountains, Granada is at the crossroads of the Darro and
Genil rivers. Bestowed with a unique history and artistic grandeur
embraced by its Moorish palaces and treasures from the Christian
Rennaissance. As the last Moorish capital on the Iberian peninsula,
it also holds great symbolic value.
In 711 AD, the Moors crossed the strait of Gibraltar
and settled in what was then a small Visigoth town perched atop
the Alhambra hill. Here they settled, raised up walls and laid the
foundation for the prosperous civilization that would follow.It
was in the 9th century when Granada rose to importance, after the
fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba. Its splendor was reached
in 1238, when Mohammed ben Nasar founded the Nasrid dynasty, and
the kingdom of Granada stretched from Gibraltar to Murcia. This
dynasty bore twenty kings until King Boabdil was forced to surrender
Granada to the Catholic monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella,
in 1492. Spanning three centuries, a magnificent and rich Islamic
culture flourished, endowing Granada with architectural marvels
of the caliber of the Alhambra, declared a World Heritage Site,
along with the Generalife and the Albaicín.
Overlooking the entire city of Granada, the Alhambra
sits majestically atop a large hill, as the most recogonizable construction
in the city. The world famous Alhambra, is an impressive complex,
that is part fortress, part palace, and a masterpiece of Moorish
architecture. This beautiful structure gets its name from the hill
on which it stands, the "Al-Hambra" or the "Red One".
Down below, in the city center, old fortress walls stand guard over
the rich Moorish heritage of times gone by. One area of particular
interest is the Albaicín, the old Moorish district. This
area is a maze of winding alleys and streets lined of quaint little
homes, shops, bars, and restaurants. There is nothing more relaxing,
in this area, than to sit in an outdoor patio while enjoying a night
time view of the Alhambra.
Teeming with life, Granada is also a large university
town, with plenty of activities to do and people to meet. Items
of special interest are flamenco, music, art, and the theater.
The area surrounding Granada also offers many interesting
options for just about any interest. Less than a half hour away
rise the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada, a favorite destination
for skiers. Just south of the city, no more than 2 hours away, are
the inviting and sunny beaches of the Costa del Sol. A few hours
away by train one can enjoy the wonderful city life that Sevilla
and Madrid are so well known for.
Without a doubt, Granada is an ideal location to learn Spanish
and experience Spain.
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