Thursday, June 26, 2008 Majestic Granada By Albert Alvarez
GRANADA, the capital city of the province with the same name, in my opinion, is the quintessential Spanish city. Rich in history, culture and architecture, be prepared to be lured by a truly wonderful experience.
Aside from the famous night life due its prestigious University of Granada, the well-known landmark of Alhambra and trekking at the nearby Sierra Nevada, Granada is appealing to both Spanish folk and foreign tourists as well.
Arriving in Granada by plane is possible via the nearby airport just half an hour away by car. Traveling by bus or train from cities like Madrid, Seville or Cordoba are popular options as well.
Finding a place to stay may not be as difficult as you think, if you plan ahead and know where to find such accommodations. One can do online bookings and browsing through websites like www.granadainfo.com/english.htm or www.turgranada.es/.
There are many things to see in Granada. Among them are the Catedral de Granada with the Capilla Real, the Moorish neighborhood of Albaicin, the world famous Alhambra, the cave dwellings in the neighborhood of Sacromonte, the lively Plaza de Bib Rambla, and the many churches of Granada like Santa Ana, San Jose or Basilica San Juan de Dios.
Walking along Calle de los Reyes Católicos, at the Plaza del Carmen, then Calle del Príncipe to the Plaza de Rib Rambla, makes for a fascinating time in the city center. If you have more time, try to see the areas of Realejo and Cartuja.
There are many interesting items to buy in Granada, most especially those that have a Moorish touch due to the city’s history. Items like ceramics, wrought iron, cloth, leather, and musical instruments can be found in the market of Alcaiceria or Calle Zacatin. Be ready for treats like herb and tea shops, castanets, leather goods and a glazed ceramic called Fajalauza.
Food in Granada has a distinctive Moorish influence, noticeable in the use of its spices. Try dishes like papas a lo pobre and tortilla Sacromonte. Also famous is a stew called olla de San Anton, which uses lima beans, pig’s ear, bacon and blood sausage. For those with a sweet tooth, try the piononos, cream-filled cakes with light syrup and pastelon de perdiz, partridge pie.
Let us not forget, Granada is one place where you can get free tapas for every drink at certain tapas bars. So, visiting a tapas bar for such a unique opportunity would certainly be something worth checking out.
Flamenco is also a popular in this Andalucian city, so make sure you get to ask around for a Flamenco bar nearest your hotel or place of stay.
Granada is a must-see city, which is certainly worth your while, if you really want to visit a place that is truly authentic and pure.
