Granada, The Alhambra Palace and
Beyond  
By Edward Kirwan

Granada, in the east of Andalucía, is a city
steeped in Moorish tradition. The Alhambra
Palace which was recently short listed as a
Seventh Wonder of the New World, is truly
wondrous but there is so much more to see and
do.
Granada Airport
FREDRICO GARCIA LORCA
GRANADA-JAEN AIRPORT
Airport code: GRX
Granada airport is located about 16 Kilometres
west of the city near the small town of Santa
Fé. The access to the airport is directly south
from the A92 Seville motorway.
Buses to the city from the airport are "following
the arrival of every aeroplane" The journey
time is 45minutes and the cost is 3 Euro.
International
country code: 34

Electricity
220 volts AC,
50Hz; round
two-pin plugs are
standard.

Government
Parliamentary
monarchy

Population
Granada: 237,929

Religion
Roman Catholic
94%, other 6%
The little dishes of Spain...that you can easily do at home

Granada

Time Zone GMT +1, +2
during daylight-saving time
(last Sunday in March to last
Sunday in October)
Airport Shuttle
Copyright © 2006-2012   fincafantastica.biz  All Rights Reserved.   About Us   Contact Info   Privacy Statement.      Site Map
Visit the unspoiled natural beauty of Las  
Alpujarras. An area of stunning natural
beauty with a delightful climate, Las
Alpujarras is dominated by the ...  
Continue Reading
Mountain Tour From Granada
from € 60
Be transported into the magical world of the
Arabian Nights when you visit the UNESCO World
Heritage Site; the Alhambra Palace and gardens.
Alhambra Tour from Granada
Alhambra Palace Tour
Use this drop-down-menu to find your way

The last stronghold of the Arabic/Moorish kings,
Granada has retained and celebrates much of its
ancient history. A bustling city, it happily combines
the old with the new. It can be enjoyed largely on
foot using the Gran Via as your central point.
Stroll in the tranquil Gardens of Triunfo, gaze at
the Hospital Real and the Carthusian Monastery.
Take in the glorious Gothic style Royal Chapel and
renaissance Cathedral where Isabel and
Ferdinand are entombed. You will be sure to find
an eatery to your liking among the many
atmospheric restaurants, cafes and bars. Happily,
unlike much of modern Spain, Granada’s bars still
offer generous free tapas.

The old Moorish Quarter, the Albaycin, offers
narrow shaded streets and is an ideal maze to
explore. From the Plaza Larga you can take a
stroll along the walls of the Alcazaba de Cadima
to the main ancient gateway, the Puerta de Elvira.
From Saint Cristobel Mirador de San Nicholas you
can gaze upon the Alhambra and the Sierra
Nevada beyond.
The Alhambra Palace is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and marks the beginning of the
Nasrid Dynasty, under Mohammed Ibn Alhamar in
the 11th Century. It graciously overlooks the city
of Granada and the vast surrounding lands. This
great fortress-cum-palace is easily accessible by
car, bus or for the stouter among us, on foot. No
visit to Granada is complete without experiencing
the magnificent Royal Palace and the Genaralife's
well kept gardens.

Granada also acts as a centre for visiting the
Sierra Nevada some 75km distant. The area
offers full winter sports facilities, walking tours,
cycling, horse trekking and many more activities
besides. This is truly an adventurer's paradise.
The ancient whitewashed villages of the
Alpujarras, famed for the Lanjaron water and
more recently, Chris Stewart’s book "Driving over
Lemons”, lie to the southeast. Among these,
Trevelez lays claim to being the highest village in
all of Spain.
From Granada it is possible from the Sierra
Nevada to ski in the morning and swim in the
Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon. If this is for
you, head south to the lesser known Costa
Tropical, an hour's drive away. It has quiet sandy
coves and beaches stretched along the craggy
coastline between the Almeria and Malaga
provincial borders. Many of these beaches are
barely accessible by car but well worth the effort
of reaching them. Among these are large,
dedicated naturist’s areas.
For those that like to take things a little easier, La
Herradura (meaning "horseshoe"), Almuncecar,
with all popular facilities, Salobrena, with its castle
and Motril for its easy yet working town demeanor
are all worth visiting.(forget visiting the port). For
sailors and scuba-divers the well maintained and
expanding Marina del Este (between Almunecar
and La Herradura) provides excellent facilities in a
secluded and tranquil setting.

Venturing away from the Mediterranean and to
the east of Granada City, lies the intriguing
troglodyte town of Gaudix. Having sandstone as a
natural resource, half the town's population live in
cave-houses. And yes, you can stay there. To the
northwest lies the old fortified town of Moclin with
its magnificent views, one of the last Moorish
strongholds before Granada fell to the Christians
in 1495. Further afield, to the southeast you can
enjoy the relaxing spas of Alhama de Granada.

Granada is easily accessible  by flight  from its
newly upgraded international airport with the
tongue-tying name of Federico García Lorca
Granada-Jaén Airport, 17km to the west of the
city.
The modern road infrastructure allows easy
access to your destination by car or bus; sorry, no
trains. Taxis are pretty cheap, the trip into the city
centre costs about €17, the Alhambra €25, and a
trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains will cost you
around €65. For fuller information a travel guide
book is always useful. Granada both ancient and
modern is there to be enjoyed.
Finca Fantastica Travel
for the independent traveller
Granada - Spain
Follow adaneinspain on Twitter
Thank You for Visiting Granada - Spain on Finca Fantastica Travel