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Granada Sights and Landmarks Guide, Spain

Granada Sights - Spain’s Moorish Fortress

The Andalucian city of Granada is a monument in itself, whose rich history and culture have made it one of the foremost tourist destinations in the country. Although other nearby tourist cities such as Sevilla or Alicante can offer quite a lot when it comes to entertainment, Granada encompasses everything that makes a city worth visiting: unique architecture, museums, parks and charming cafes and restaurants and a lively nightlife. Granada is best known for being a former Moorish city, and the cultural heritage of these intriguing people is still very much evident in the city’s architecture and even certain customs. This Granada Sights Guide will describe a few of the city’s most important landmarks.

Granada Sights - Museums

The Archaeological Museum of Alhambra is located in the Albayzin district, and it is the best place where you can find out more about the city’s rich history. The museum is housed by a magnificent 16th century palace, and it displays artefacts from different eras of Granada’s history. The Alhambra Museum is located in Carlos V’s palace in Alhambra and it exhibits Moorish art from the 9th through the 16th century. Another museum in the same building is the Museum of Fine Arts, which hosts some famous pieces by Spanish artists, for example works by Alonso Cano and Machuca.

Granada Sights - Architecture and the Outdoors

In Granada, Moorish and typical catholic religious architecture are combined, and they create a magical atmosphere that has no equal in any other European city. The most important tourist attraction of Granada is without doubt Alhambra, the Moorish fortress built in the 14th century by the former Muslim rulers of the city. The palace is a beautiful example of Islamic architecture, with several medieval Christian additions. Alhambra is actually an entire complex made up of a citadel, the Alcazaba, and a number of palaces surrounded by a wall. From the thirteen towers of Alhambra’s fortified wall, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the entire complex. Another must-see feature of Granada is the old Arab neighborhood, the Albayzin. The quarter is crossed by countless winding, narrow streets, the remainder of the city’s colorful past. Albayzin was declared a World Heritage Site, and it is famous for its beautifully preserved hammam, or bath complex. The neighborhood is filled with Moorish houses that have changed little since the middle ages, although many of the buildings were turned into cafes or Arab restaurants.

Granada Sights - Churches and Convents

Cartuja de Granada, the city’s Carthusian monastery, is an exquisite example of Spanush baroque architecture. Both the interior and the exterior of the monastery are heavily ornated; the most impressive features of the monastery are the tabernacle and the sacristy. Granada’s cathedral, built during the Renaissance, is also a noteworthy landmark of the city. The building is a medley of different styles, altered many times during its long history. This Granada Sights Guide recommends that you visit Sacromonte Abbey, located in Granada’s traditional gitano district, a place steeped in legends about mysterious catacombs that lie underneath it.

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