CITY OVERVIEW

Granada: Population 300,000
Granada: Location Southern part of Spain (Andalusia)

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.