Granada And The Alhambra: The Highlight Of The Trip Through Southern Spain

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A view of Granada from the Alhambra, Spain.

A view of the Alhambra with the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain

The garden of the Generalife palace

The Court of the Myrtles

The patio of the lions

Well deserved tapas and wine after a daylong visit.

In my early teens, I visited Granada and the Alhambra in Spain.  The place seemed magical to me all these years ago and I always wanted to return to it to spend more time exploring its palaces, its gates and its magnificent gardens.

The Alhambra was the main reason for this trip to Southern Spain, so imagine my disappointment when I learned two months before departure that most entrance tickets had been sold out long ago. Luckily, my husband and I were able to secure two places on a guided tour.  We also reserved a room in one of the two hotels right in the Alhambra complex, so that we were able to take a tour at night as well and make the most of our visit.

Records first mention the Alcazaba fortress, the oldest part of the Alhambra, in the 9th century. It was built on the remains of a Roman fortification. However, it was not until the first king of the Nasrid dynasty, Mohammed ben Al-Hamar, established his royal residence behind the fortress' ramparts that the Alhambra started taking shape. Today, the Nasrid palaces, like the Palacio de Generalife, have been lovingly restored and the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The plasterwork is just magnificent and the courtyards with the many fountains and pools are lovely. So are its tiles, though most of them have been replaced and do not date back to the Moorish period. It's setting against the backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain and on the banks of the river Darro, is spectacular.  The gardens were in full bloom, with the scent of orange blossoms and jasmine accompanying us everywhere we went.

The Alhambra offers a perfect panorama of the City of Granada, which is worth a visit in its own right, especially the Albaicin neighborhood, one of the oldest centers of Muslim culture in Granada.

It's little eateries and shops are a perfect place for a bite to eat after an amazing visit.

The Alhambra was every bit as spectacular as in my memories from so many years ago, perhaps even more so.