INFOIDIOMAS.COM - Granada City Guide

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: 237,929.

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:

month	average temperature	average precipitation	month	average temperature	average precipitation

January	6.7°C / 44ºF	41 mm / 1.60 in	July	24.8°C / 77ºF	4 mm / 0.16 in
February	8.5°C / 47ºF	38 mm / 1.50 in	August	24.5°C / 76ºF	3 mm / 0.12 in
March	11°C / 52ºF	30 mm / 1.19 in	September	20.9°C / 70ºF	16 mm / 0.63 in
April	12.8°C / 55ºF	38 mm / 1.50 in	October	15.5°C / 60ºF	42 mm / 1.64 in
May	16.8°C / 62ºF	28 mm / 1.10 in	November	10.7°C / 51ºF	48 mm / 1.89 in
June	21.4°C / 71ºF	17 mm / 0.68 in	December	7.6°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 ( 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, Av. Constitución next to Renfe station, bus station and Av. 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 number 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 mountains, 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: Daily 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.

Emergencies: All the emergencies: 112; Medical Service: 061; Local Police: 092; National Police: 091.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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 €).

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 number 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, located in the Telecabina building, on Pradollano, 958 24 91 00.


		GRANADA CITY GUIDE