Granada is an elegant, accessible city
that not only presents a varied programme of culture and music, but
extracurricular outdoor activities as well. It is situated close to the
Mediterranean coast (only 50 minutes away by car) and the Sierra Nevada, one
of the largest ski resorts in Spain (only 40 minutes away by car).
One can explore the entire city without much travelling effort. The
Alhambra palace, jaunt to the Sierra for some spring skiing, and an evening
at the Arab baths is a bliss in disguise for the tourists. The old historic
quarters of the Albayzín, lunch and swim on the Mediterranean coast,
and a festive evening of flamenco and tapas is no less rewarding.
It is famous for Flamenco and caves
Fact File
Country : Spain
Population : 240000
Languages : English, German, Spanish, French
Climate : It has an extreme climate, with temperatures above 40 C in
summer and below 0 C in winter.
Official Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $
= 0.678141 GBP(subject to change)
Location : The city of Granada is located in Andalusia, Spain's
southern-most region and is located on one of the foothills of the Sierra
Nevada Mountain Range.
Getting There
By
Air : Granada national airport is about 12 km from the city center.
There are several flights a day to Barcelona and Madrid. The airport is
connected with the city by a shuttle bus service (~2.75 Euro) or taxi (~15
Euro). In general, a bus departs after each flight arrival. The trip takes
about 30 minutes.
By Train : Granada railway station makes the city accessible from
rest of the country.
Getting Around
By Road : Buses and rental cars are the main mode of getting around
the city.
Accommodation
The city of Granada has very good hotels to ensure a comfortable stay for
the tourists. Mentioned below is a list of some of the hotels in the city:
5 star hotels in the city:
Hotel America
Hotel Parador de Granada
Hotel Saray
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Dauro
Macia Monasterio de los Basilios
Juan Miguel hotel
3 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Luna Arabial
Best western dauroII hotel
Major Tourist attractions
The
Alhambra Palace : U.N. World Heritage Site, which includes the
Generalife (summer palace and gardens) and Alhambra Palace (palaces and
fortress) was founded in the 1240s by Ibn el-Ahmar, the first king of the
Nasrids. The summer palace is a beautifully carved building surrounded by
fragrant jasmine and rose bushes, sparkling fountains, and shady rest spots.
The palace complex is comprised of intricate Moorish architecture.
The Cathedral & Royal Chapel : with renaissance jewel on the
outside and Baroque within, the Cathedral of Granada is the architectural
work of such greats as Enrique Egas, Diego Silóe, Alonso Cano, and
scultpor Juan de Mena.
The Albayzín, historic Arab district : Bed & Breakfast
Lagualuz is located in this U.N. world Heritage Site. White-washed houses,
labyrinthine cobblestone streets and intimate views of the Alhambra and
surrounding areas are everyday fare in this ninth century Moorish barrio
(neighborhood).
The Sacromonte : Slightly removed from the center of town, this
picturesque neighborhood is famous for its modern-day cave dwellings and
rich Gypsy flamenco cultural tradition. This is also one of the U.N. world
heritage sites.
Composer Manuel de Falla's House : Located close to the Alhambra
Palace, this house-turned-museum is the place where Cadiz-born composer
lived and worked for many years.
La Cartuja Monastery : About 2 km from the center, this Carthusian
monastery is one of the most outstanding examples of incredibly elaborate
Andalusian-style Baroque architecture.
