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 The origins of Granada date
back to a Phoenician fortress which was built in the X
century b.C. on the site of the present-day district of
Albaicín. The city later became part of the domains
of Romans, Vandals, and Visigoths, until it was conquered
by the Moors in 711. The Moorish domination was to last
for seven centuries and leave the greatest historical
legacy. The Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel, reconquered
the city for the Crown of Castille in 1492, after which
ensued a period of decadence which affected all but the
cultural sphere of the city thanks to the native-born
poet Federico García Lorca (1898-1936). Population: 236,988
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 Tourist
Information: Tourist
Office, Virgen Blanca, 9 ( 902 40 50 45).Tourist Office,
Rotonda Centro Comercial Neptuno ( 958 25 58 60). Tourist Office, Avenida de Andalucía
( 958 27 93 98). Andalusia Tourist Office, Corral del
Carbón ( 958 22 59 90). Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:00
and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. Province Tourist Office,
Plaza de Mariana Pineda, 10 ( 958 24 71 28). More information at www.turismodegranada.org
Weather: The city has an average
of 40º C during summer season and 5º C during
winter, which seems harder because of the nearest Sierra
Nevada mountains. This is the current weather: |
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| month |
average temperature |
average precipitation |
month |
average temperature |
average precipitation |
| January |
7°C / 44ºF |
41 mm / 1.60 in |
July |
25°C / 77ºF |
4 mm / 0.16 in |
| February |
8.5ºC / 47ºF |
38 mm / 1.50 in |
August |
24.5°C / 76ºF |
3 mm / 0.12 in |
| March |
11ºC / 52ºF |
30 mm / 1.19 in |
September |
21°C / 70ºF |
16 mm / 0.63 in |
| April |
13ºC / 55ºF |
38 mm / 1.50 in |
October |
15.5°C / 60ºF |
42 mm / 1.64 in |
| May |
17ºC / 62ºF |
28 mm / 1.10 in |
November |
11°C / 51ºF |
48 mm / 1.89 in |
| June |
21.5ºC / 71ºF |
17 mm / 0.68 in |
December |
7.5°C / 46ºF |
53 mm / 2.08 in |
Telephones: Granada code number is 958, even
necessary for local calls. For international calls dial 00
plus the country code you wish to call. Public telephones
works with coins and prepaid cards on sale at newsagents.
For telephone information dial 11888 or 11822.
Airport: Federico García
Lorca Airport - GRX ( 902 40 05 00) is 15 km west from the city
in the A-92 motorway. Regular flights to Madrid, Barcelona,
Palma de Mallorca and Melilla. Connections to Granada with
a coach line with departures according to flight arrivals
and every hour from 6:40 to 20:00 from Paseo
del Violón (next to Ventorrillo bar), running through
Gran Vía de Colón, Triunfo gardens, Avenida Constitución
next to Renfe station, bus station and Avenida Andalucía
with Periodista Eugenio Selles (40 minutes, price 3 €). 
Train
Station: Avenida
de los Andaluces ( 902 27 12 72).
Granada is well communicated with Madrid, Algeciras, Almería,
Málaga, Sevilla and Barcelona.  bus 13 connect
city center with the train station.
Bus
Station: Carretera de
Jaén. 958 18 54 80. Daily connections to Madrid
and every andalusian and mediterranean capital. Bus
number 3 connect city center with the bus station. BONAL company
serves Sierra Nevada, 958 27 31 00.
 Public
Transport: Granada
is a nice place to move on foot. Only the hills of Albaicín
and la Alhambra could be avoided by the small red buses from Alhambra Bus, with departures every 10 minutes from
Plaza Nueva from 7:00 to 24:00. Rest of the city is convered
by ROBER buses ( 958 81 37 50)
which works from 6:20 to 23:00. Single trip cost 1 €,
8 trip 5 € and monthly pass 34 €. 
 Taxis: Day fare applies Monday
to Friday from 6:00 to 22:00, with a start fare of 1.19 €
plus 0.63 € each kilometre and minimun
charge of 3.08 €. Night
fare applies Monday
to Friday from 22:00 to 6:00 and
24 hours Saturday and bank days, with a start fare of 1.49
€ plus 0.78 € each kilometre and minimun
charge of 3.85 €. Suitcase
supplement is 0.40 € and Alhambra destinations 3.14
€ with daily fare and 3.92 € with night fare. Teletaxi, 958 28 06 54. Radiotaxi, 958 13 23 23. Taxi
Genil, 958 13 23 23.
Parking: Street parking is controlled
by parquimeters which operate Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 and 16:30
to 20:30 and Saturday 9:00 to 14:00. Prices are 0.50 €
for 30 minutes, 0.80 € for 60 minutes and 1.60 €
for 120 minutes.
Medical
Assistance: Hospital
Clínico, Avenida Doctor Olóriz, 16
( 958 80 70 00). Hospital Virgen de las Nieves,
Avenida de la Constitución, 100 ( 958 24 10 00).
24
hour pharmacies: Zarco Ríos,
Puerta Real de España, 2. Nestares, Gran Capitán,
9. Tallón, Recogidas, 48. Santa María,
Periodista José María Carulla, 8. Marta Valverde,
Reyes Católicos, 5.
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 "TAPAS"
AROUND GRANADA
Granada is known as the
capital of the "tapas": most of bars and tabernas offer a wide range of tapas and tapiyas.
These are the most popular:
La Gran Taberna,
Cuesta de Gomérez, 2. Casa
Enrique, Acera del Darro, 8. Cunini,
Pescadería, 14. Tendido 1, Av. Doctor
Olóriz, 25. Abadía, Navas, 12. Casa Juanillo,
Camino del Sacromonte, 83. López
Correa, Molinos, 5. Pasiegas,
Pl. de las Pasiegas.Taberna
Castañeda, Almireceros, 1-3. Los Girasoles, San Juan de Dios, 24.
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Emergencies: All the emergencies: 112; Medical Service: 061; Local Police: 092; National Police: 091.
Restaurants: El Patio Granadino, Mesones,
50. Home-made kitchen for students and tourists. Brisa,
Ronda, 143. Home-made kitchen. La Flor del Mar, Milagro,
5. Fish and seafood at reasonable prices. Morillo,
Cuesta de Gomérez, 20. Andalusian kitchen. Los Girasoles,
San Juan de Dios, 24. Speciality
in "tapas". La Higuera,
Horno del Hoyo, 17. Home-made kitchen at resonable prices. Naturi Albayzin, Calderería Nueva, 13. Vegetarian
cuisine. Los Arrayanes, Marañas, semiesquina
Calderería Nueva. Moroccan cuisine. Ajolí,
Plaza Mariana Pineda. Iberian cusine. Cunini, Plaza
de la Pescadería, 14. Seafood restaurant.  Chikito,
Plaza del Campillo, 9. Andalusian
kitchen. El Burlaero, Seminario,
12. Taurino restaurant. Los Manueles, Reyes Católicos,
52. Andalusian kitchen. Al Zagal, Av.
Fuente Nueva. Design and tradition. El Huerto de Juan Ranas,
Altozano, 8. Sofistification and creativity. Fior di Gelato, Acera del Darro, 62. Original and classic ice cream flavors from mojito to yogurt with chocolate crunch.
Cafes
& tea-rooms: Café
Central, Elvira, 3. Meeting point for many people from
Granada. Café Alhambra, Mesones, 27. Speciality
in hot chocolate. Gran Café, Plaza Mayor. One
of the classical places in Granada. Pilar del Toro,
Santa Ana, 12. Busy café in the evenings. Kasbah,
Calderería Nueva, 4. Tea room & narguil. Meknes
Rahma, Calderería Nueva, 10. Tea-room with arab
pastries.
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| Zambras
are famous around Granada |
Tablaos: Flamenco singing and
dancing fiestas are known as zambras, coming from Sacromonte
caves in XVI century. Most famous are: Jardines
Neptuno, Arabial. Reina Mora, Mirador de San Cristóbal. Venta El Gallo, Barranco de los Negros, 5. At 21:00
(dinner) and 23:00. Cueva Los Tarantos, Camino del
Sacromonte, 9. At 21:30 and 23:00. Cueva de María
la Canastera, Camino del Sacromonte, 89. At 22:30. El
Curro, Tablas, 5. Cueva de Manolo Amaya, Camino
del Sacromonte. Cueva La Rocío, Camino del Sacromonte,
70. Sala Albayzin, Murcia Road, Mirador de San Cristóbal.
At 22:00.
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ARAB BATHS
Resembling the rest of Andalusia, Granada maintains the tradition of Arab Baths, from which the most famous are:
Aljibe de San Miguel, San Miguel Alta, 41 ( 958 522 867)
Hammam, Santa Ana, 16 ( 958 229 978)
Spa Balnearia, Recogidas, 24 - Galería ( 958 536 960)
Spa Baños de Elvira, Arteaga, 3 ( 958 208 841)
Spa Sol y Agua, Seminario, 6 ( 958 263 357) |
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Pubs
& Clubs: El
Aljibe, Animas, 7. Live concerts. El Rincón
de San Pedro, Carrera del Darro, 12. Dance music. Barrio
Latino, Martínez
de la Rosa, 18. Salsa, bachata, merengue... Alambique, Molinos, 1. Jazz music. Patapalo,
Naranjos, 2. Rock music. La Pantera Rosa, Pedro Antonio
de Alarcón, 70. Van Gogh, Pedro Antonio de Alarcón,
82. Planta Baja, Horno de Abad, 11. Lounge sounds. Granada 10, Cárcel Baja, 13. Busy club. Space,
Las Moras. Afterhour club. City Life, Carretera de
Armilla, next to Carrefour. One of the biggest clubs in the
city. Aterriza como
Puedas, Lavadero de las Tablas, 15. Pub.
Gay
venues: Chueca,
Goya. Pub. Tic Tac, Horno de Haza, 19. Pub. El Rincón
de San Pedro, Carrera del Darro, 12. Café-pub. La Sal, Santa Paula, 11. The ancient gay pub in the
city. House music. El Zoo, Moras, 2. Busy club. |
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| black point of interest |
| infoidiomas selection |
| a 'must' |
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Times changes, timetables and prices vary continuously, attractions that were once interesting are no longer so a year later, and others that were not even mentioned become a must in no time. For this reason, at infoidiomas.com we are always updating and we would be grateful if our clients would tell us about details and information that has become obsolete. We will acknowledge them by publishing their names in future editions.
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THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
The Alhambra, so called because of its reddish walls (qa'lat al-Hamra, red castle), is located on the hill of Al-Sabika on the left-hand bank of the River Darro, opposite the quarters of the Albaicín and the Alcazaba from where it dominates the whole of the city and the plain of Granada.
The first record of it is from the 9th century, when in 889 Sawwar ben Hamdun had to take refuge in the Alcazaba and repair it owing to the civil struggles that scourged the Cordoba Caliphate, to which Granada belonged. The enclosure subsequently began to be expanded and populated, incorporating a castle to the walled enclosure in the 11th century, which converted it into a military fortress. It was not until the 13th century with the arrival of the first Nasrid monarch, Mohamed ben Al-Hamar (Mohamed I, 1238-1273) that the Alhambra became the royal residence. This fact marked the start of its period of greatest splendour. Firstly the old part of the Alcazaba was strengthened, and the Torre de la Vela and the Torre del Homenaje were built, water was brought up from the River Darro, storehouses and water tanks were built, and construction began of the palace and the walled enclosure. This work was continued by Mohamed II (1273-1302) and Mohamed III (1302-1309), to whom the public baths and the Mosque on which the current church of Santa María was built are also attributed.
We owe to Yusuf I (1333-1353) and Mohamed V (1353-1391) the immense majority of the constructions of the Alhambra that have survived to the present day. These range from the alterations of the Alcazaba and the palaces, without forgetting the expansion of the walled enclosures, the Puerta de la Justicia, the expansion and decoration of the towers, the construction of the Baths and the Cuarto de Comares, the Sala de la Barca, and include the Patio de los Leones and its adjacent outbuildings. Practically nothing remains from the later Nasrid kings.
After the Catholic Monarchs we can highlight the demolition of part of the complex by Charles V in order to build the palace that bears his name, the emperor’s rooms, and the Peinador de la Reina.
On 7th July 2007 (7-7-7) after a controversial round of international voting, the Alhambra was only one place from being classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. This is no more than a theoretical classification, as for the people of Granada this monument certainly deserves to be one of the great wonders of the world.
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| Carlos
V Palace in Alhambra enclosure |
The Alhambra, located on a site atop a hill which is visible
from every point in the city, is a Mecca for tourists who visit
the Iberian Peninsula as well as one of the jewels of Moorish
architecture. The origins of the Alhambra complex date back to
the IX century construction of a fortress known as Al Hamra (the
red fortress), so called because of the hue of the earth that
was used to build it. The transformation of the fortress into
a palace was undertaken during the Nasrid dynasty by Sultan Muhammad
I, who moved there from Albaicín in 1237. Further building
expansions were commissioned by Muhammad III, who erected the Great Mosque; by Yusuf I, who built the Palacio de Comares (Comares Palace); and by Muhammad V, who constructed the Patio
de los Leones (Patio of the Lions). On January 2, 1492, in
an effort to prevent the destruction of the Alhambra grounds,
Boabdil handed the keys to the city over to the Catholic Monarchs,
which ended eight centuries of Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula.
On his way into exile, legend has it that when Boabdil stopped,
with tears in his eyes, and turned around for one last look at
the city, his mother scolded him by saying: "you cry like
a woman for what you knew not how to defend like a man".
The new Christians occupying the grounds founded the Convento
de San Francisco in the XV century and they replaced part
of the existing palaces with new buildings, such as the Palace
of Carlos V, and with Christian churches. The gardens surrounding
the buildings, known as the Generalife gardens, were used
by the Nasrid kings as recreation areas. Their origins date back
to the XIII century, though later they were modified by the Catholic
Monarchs and by King Felipe III. The Generalife has a number of
patios, pavillions and gardens, where water, flowing from a thousand
fountains and ponds, reigns supreme (minibuses 30 & 32
to main gate;  the Alhambra grounds are open daily April to October from 8:30
to 20:00 and November to March from 8:30 to 18:00; the Nasrid
palaces are open for visits during the summer Tuesday to Saturday
from 22:00 to 23:30 and during the winter on Saturdays from 20:00
to 21:30; for further information, you may visit
the Alhambra website at www.alhambra-patronato.es. For visits during peak season, we recommend that you make a prior
reservation by calling + 34 958 24 47 97 or though www.servicaixa.com,
as the daily quota of 6,300 visitors can fill up rather quickly.  12 € for visitors eight years or older and 6 € to the
gardens only).
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| Granada
cathedral |
Heading down into the city, you may want to start
your visit to Granada at the Plaza de Isabel la Católica,
where the Catholic Queen ordered Granada's cathedral to
be erected in 1507 ( November to February from Monday to Saturday from 10:45 to 13:30
and from 16:00 to 19:00, Sunday from 16:00 to 19:00 and April
to October from 10:45 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 20:00; on Sunday
from 16:00 to 20:00; 3.50 €). The Capilla Real (Royal Chapel)- located
on the Calle Oficios, adjacent to the cathedral- was built in
1505, also by order of the Catholic Monarchs, in order to house
the royal family´s pantheon. Since the Monarchs perished
before the works were completed, their remains were buried in
the Convento de San Francisco, in the Alhambra, until Carlos V
ordered them to be moved to the completed pantheon in 1521. The
sculptings on the tombs honoring the kings and their children
were made by Doménico Fancelli and Bartolomé Ordóñez ( Monday to Saturday from 10:30 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00;
Sunday and holidays from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00; 3.50 €). The Catholic Monarchs Museum is located
to the right of the Chapel; the Museum contains works by Boticcelli,
Berruguete and Van der Weyden among other treasures. The Palacio
de la Madraza (Palace of the Madraza, or Muslim school of
higher learning) is located at the back of the cathedral; the
Palace once housed a school devoted to the study of the Koran
and currently is used by the University of Granada ( Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 22:00). Just beyond the Madraza
Palace is the Alcaicería district and the Plaza
de Bib Rambla, better known as the Plaza de las Flores (flowers),
with its XVII century Fuente de los Gigantones (giants
fountain). The Corral del Carbón- located in the
Plaza de Mariana Pineda, 12- is a XIV century Muslim inn which
was used as a theatre after the city was reconquered by Christians.
Beyond the Corral is the Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas
(Discalced Carmelites Convent) and the Casa de los Tiros -located at Calle Pavaneras, 19- which originated as a Christian
fortress in the XVI century and currently houses a complete research
library specializing in the topics related to Granada ( Tuesday from 14:30 to 20:30, Wednesday to Saturday from 9:00 to
20:30). The Iglesia de Santos Justo and the Iglesia
del Perpétuo Socorro, both Barroque churches, are located
to the left of Bib Rambla, along with the Basilica devoted
to San Juan de Dios, the order´s founder whose remains are
buried inside. Next to the Basilica- at Calle Rector López
Argüeta, 9- is the Monasterio de San Jerónimo,
which was the first built by Christians after the reconquest ( Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 19:30,
Sunday from 11:00 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 19:30; 3 €). The Casa Museo Manuel de Falla -in Antequeruela Alta, 11- shows
an exposition about the great granada composer ( April to October Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:30, November
to Febrary Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00; 3 €).
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| The
Albaicin district at the feet of the Alhambra and Sierra Nevada |
The Plaza Nueva and the Carrera del
Darro -both located on the left bank of the Darro River- make
up Granada's present day nerve center, and located in this area
are several other monuments, such as the Real Cancillería (Royal Chancellery), built in a Renaissance style in the XVI century,
the Iglesia de San Gil and Iglesia de Santa Ana, both Mudejar-style
churches, and the Bañuelo, a Muslim bath house dating
from the XI century which is located on the lower floor of what
today is a private house. The old Muslim quarter, known as the Albaicín, is wedged in between the hill crowned
by the Alhambra and another hill opposite, the Cerro de San Cristóbal.
The Albaicín was settled by Muslims from Baza (Albayyasin)
who were expelled by Fernando III in 1227. Once you have entered
the quarter at the Puerta de Elvira, a gate located in
the Plaza del Triunfo, a walk through the maze of narrow streets
will afford some of the best views of the Alhambra. The Calle Elvira will lead you to the quarter's most
representative sights, namely the Convento de Santa Isabel (located at Santa Isabel la Real, 15), an Isabellian Gothic convent
which was founded by Isabel the Catholic Monarch in 1501; the Convento de la Merced, which dates from 1492; and the Palacio
de Dar Al Horra (located on the Calle de las Monjas), a palace
built in the XV century adjacent to the citadel that once
stood inside the city walls ( from 10:00 to 14:00).
 To the north of the Albaicín
is the Sacromonte district, where you can visit the Sacromonte
Abbey, founded in 17th century (open Tuesday to Saturday
from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 16:00
to 18:00; 3 €), the catacombs of San Cecilio, and La
Cartuja, a monastery located some 2 km from the city which
was founded by the Gran Capitán, Christopher Columbus,
on the site of some Muslim ruins ( bus 8; daily on summer from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00, on
winter from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00; 3.50 €).
Tourist office offers Bono Turístico
Granada, which allows free access at the most important museums
and monuments of the city (Alhambra, Cathedral, Cartuja, Monastery of San Jerónimo, Science Park, Fine Arts Museum and Archeological Museum) and
9 bus trips for 30 €.
SIERRA NEVADA
Sierra Nevada is home to the southernmost ski
resort in Europe, which is situated at an altitude of 2075 meters
above sea level and is only a 30 minute ride from Granada. You
can get there on the bus service run by BONAL ( 958 27 31
00). Buses leave the Granada bus station from Monday to Friday
at 8:00, 10:00 and 17:00 and they return at 9:00, 16:00 and 18:30;
on Saturday, Sunday and holidays buses leave at 8:00, 10:00, 15:00
and 17:00 and they return at 9:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 18:30 (1
hour trip, round trip: 7.5 €, tickets on sale at Alsina Graells
window in bus station). The ski resort, with its top-notch
facilities for skiers and 34 different runs, has held several
world skiing championships and has been a candidate for the winter
olympic games on several occassions. The chairlifts generally
run from 9:00 to 17:00, weather permitting. Lift tickets are on
sale at the ticket window located in the Plaza de Andalucía
for the price of 24.70 € during low season and 33 €
during peak season (for skiers aged 12 or older). For further
information you may go to www.cetursa.es or inquire at the Office of Tourism ( 958 24 91 00), located in the Telecabina
building, on Pradollano. |
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