Spain & Portugal Travel Part VIII: Granada
Spain & Portugal Travel VIII: Granada
Granada
Day 8 Monday, 29 October 2018
On this day, we were going to visit some historical sites in the outskirt of Granada City.
Map showing the location of Granada in Spain
Map showing the location of Granada in Spain
Ramon, a Granada tour guide
In the morning, we left Hotel Macia Condor in Granada City and headed to a hilly region known as Alhambra on the outskirts of the city.
Ramon brought us to a historical site known as Alhambra Complex.
Ramon, a Granada tour guide
Ramon, a Granada tour guide
Alhambra Complex in Granada, Spain
Alhambra Complex consists of three main parts, i.e. Alcazaba Fortress, Generalife Garden and Generalife Summer Palace.
Diagram showing the Alhambra Complex in Granada
Diagram showing the Alhambra Complex in Granada, Spain
Alhambra Complex Visit
Our tour-manager, Jeff Lee, bought tickets for us to enter Alhambra Complex. Then we f0llowed the guide and walked for several minutes to a fortress, Alcazaba Fortress, built during the Muslim rule(1230-1492).
Entrance to Alhambra Complex
Entrance to Alhambra Complex
Part of Alcazaba Fortress wall
On the way to Alcazaba Fortress, we saw part of the fortress wall on a high ground.
Part of Alcazaba Fortress wall, Alhambra Complex
Part of Alcazaba Fortress wall, Alhambra Complex, Granada
Tower of Justice, the main entrance to Alcazaba Fortress
To reach Alcazaba Fortress, we entered the main entrance to the fortress known as Tower of Justice.
Tower of Justice, the main entrance to Alcazaba Fortress
Tower of Justice, the main entrance to Alcazaba Fortress, Alhambra Complex, Granada
Charles V Palace
While walking to the fortress, we stopped at a palace, Charles V Palace.
Tour group walking to Charles V Palace, Alhambra Complex
Tour group walking to Charles V Palace, Alhambra Complex, Granada
Charles V Palace was built for a Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V(1500-1558), in the 15th. Century. But he had no chance to stay at the palace as it was completed in the 20th. Century.
The palace now houses two museums, viz., Museum of Alhambra and Museum of Fine Arts of the Nasrid Dynasty(1230-1492)
Palace of Charles V
Palace of Charles V(1500-1558) was built in the 15th. Century and completed in the 20th. Century. No monarchs had ever stayed at the palace as its construction was not completed until the late 20th. Century.
There is a circular courtyard in the centre of Palace of Charles V.
A circular courtyard in the centre of Palace of Charles V
Palace of Charles V has a circular courtyard in its centre.
Alcazaba Fortress
Then we walked on and, finally, we arrived at Alcazaba Fortress.
The fortress located on a small plateau overlooking Albaicin City is large and its facade has two tall, majestic-looking towers.
It was built in the 13th. Century by the Muslim rulers who made it as a military stronghold and their residence, too.
Facade of Alcazaba Fortress
Facade of Alcazaba Fortress with two large, tall towers, Alhambra Comples
Wide Ramparts and Tall Watch-Towers
The ramparts of the fortress are wide and a few watch-towers are very high.
There were some soldiers in one of them watching the visitors below, while we were there.
Wide rampart and Tall Towers of Alcazaba Fortress
Wide rampart of Alcazaba Fortress in the foreground and the tallest watch-tower of the fortress in the background
Tallest watch-tower of Alcazaba Fortress
Tallest watch-tower of Alcazaba Fortress, Alhambra Complex, Granada, Spain
Writer and wife at Alcazaba Fortress
While my wife and I, together with our tourmates were at the fortress, we were awe-stricken by its immense size.
Besides, the sights of the Albaicin City, agricultural land and the Sierra Nevada mountain range seen in the distance from Alcazaba Fortress were breathtaking.
Writer and wife at Alcazaba Fortress
Writer and wife at Alcazaba Fortress on 29 October 2018
Breathtaking Sights from Alcazaba Fortress
Albaicin District
Albaicin District as seen from Alcazaba Fortress in Alhambra Complex
Albaicin’s agricultural land
Albaicin’s agricultural land in the distance as seen from Alcazaba Fortress in Alhambra Complex
Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
Sierra Nevada, a mountain range in the distance as seen from Alcazaba Fortress. The highest peak is Mulhacen(3479 metres).
St. Mary Church, Alhambra
Later, we left Alcazaba Fortress, passed Charles V Palace again and came across a small Roman Catholic church, St. Mary Church. It was built on a demolished mosque site in the 15th. Century
St. Mary Church
St. Mary Church was built on the site of Alhambra’s Grand Mosque in the 15th. Century.
Ruins of Living Quarters for Soldiers
Further down the road from St. Mary Church, we saw a place where remains of the living quarters for soldiers during the Muslim rule were preserved.
Remains of living quarters for soldiers
Remains of living quarters for soldiers during the Muslim rule in Alhambra Complex, Granada
Generalife Garden
Soon, we came to another part of the Alhambra Complex, i.e. Generalife Garden.
It was created in the 13th. Century during the Moorish or Muslim rule.
The garden is shady and cooling, and its trees are neatly trimmed.
It is a garden that is well-taken care of.
Entrance to Generalife Garden
Entrance to Generalife Garden in Alhambra Complex that was created in the 13th. Century during the Moorish rule.
Manicured Generalife Garden
Generalife Garden is well taken care of.
Sight of plants in Generalife Garden
Walking and enjoying the sight of plants in Generalife Garden
Part of Alhambra Complex
As we were walking away from the garden to the Summer Palace of Generalife, we saw the part of Alhambra Complex where we had visited Alcazaba Fortress, Charles V Palace and St. Mary Church.
Part of Alhambra Complex
Part of Alhambra Complex seen from Generalife
Summer Palace of Generalife
Soon we arrived at the Summer Palace which was for the Muslim rulers during the Nasrid Dynasty (1230-1492).
To enter the palace, we walked up a narrow stairway and saw a garden in front of the building.
Entrance of Summer Palace of Generalife
Entrance of Summer Palace of Generalife
Long Garden and Islamic Calligraphy
The garden is long with walls round it. In the middle, there is a long rectangular pond with small fountains. On the inner walls of the porch of the palace, Islamic calligraphy has been written.
Summer Palace of Generalife
A summer palace for the Muslim kings in Generalife, Alhambra Complex, Granada
Islamic Calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy on the inner walls of the summer palace of Generalife
Shady Path in Generalife
Later, we left the Summer Palace of Generalife, walked along a shady path and exited the Alhambra Complex at a gate where a road went down to Albaicin City.
Shady Path in Generalife
Shady path in Generalife, Alhambra Complex, Granada
Exit Gate of Alhambra Complex
Exit gate of Alhambra Complex, Granada, to the road down to Albaicin Town
Albaicin Town
As we were walking down the curved, narrow and steep road from the gate to Albaicin Town, we noted that three storeyed old buildings were on both sides of the road.
Albaicin Town was inhabited by the Moors during the Nasrid Dynasty(1230-1492). It still has some of the Moorish features, e.g. narrow, winding roads, Moorish buildings and traditional trades.
Narrow, Winding Road
Narrow, winding road down to Albaicin Town, Granada
Busy Albaicin Town
Albaicin was declared as a UNESCO World heritage site in 1984.
Some of the streets in the town are wide and busy.
A Typical Street in Albaicin Town
A typical street in Albaicin Town, Granada
A Busy Street
A busy street in Albaicin Town, Granada
Estrella Oriental Restaurant, Granada
In the afternoon, we left Albaicin Town and went to Granada Old Town to have lunch at a Chinese restaurant known as Estrella Oriental Restaurant.
Restaurante Chino, Granada
Estrella Oriental Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant in Granada Old Town, Spain
Some food served at Estrella Oriental Restaurant, Granada
Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken
Fish Fillets
Fish fillets with vegetables
Slices of Cucumber
Slices of cucumber
Fried Egg
Fried egg
Hotel Port Elche, Alicante
After the delicious lunch, we left Granada and travelled 350 km east for 4 hours to Alicante. When we arrived at Alicante , we at Hotel Port Elche for a night.
.Hotel Port Elche, Alicante
Tour group staying at Hotel Port Elche in Alicante on 29 October 2018
Next Destination
Our next destination on the following day, Tuesday, 30 October 2018, would be Valencia. It is 165 km in the north-east and the travelling time would be 2 hours.
Previous(Cordoba) / Home / Next(Valencia)
Places visited during Spain & Portugal Tour(22 Oct-02 Nov 2018):
Toledo Madrid Salamanca Porto Lisbon Seville Cordobo Granada Valencia Barcelona