Getting to our accommodation in Granada was a bit of an ordeal. The AVE (fast train) from Barcelona to Málaga left us at a modern station (Antequera-Santa Ana) in the middle of nowhere before we transferred to a coach for the last hour of today's trip.
 |
| Antequera-Santa_Ana Railway Station |
Reason for this arrangement - the line to Granada is being rebuilt (to a hign standard that will most likely support an AVE service in the not to distant future). The Spanish economy might be struggling but they know how to invest in productivity generating infrastructure.
 |
| 3,150m Archidona Viaduct - the longest on the new AVE Antequera - Granada line under construction |
So the plan on arrival in Granada was to drag our bags the relatively short distance from the station to our Airbnb accommodation. Problem was the published address was incorrect so after a flurry of real time email correspondence with our Spanish (only) speaking host we dragged our bags another 2 - 3 km down to Calle Reyes Católicos in the hottest part of the day. Despite following incorrect information (honest) you will not be surprised that the Skipper was not too popular ☺.
The Albaicín district of Granada where we stayed retains the narrow winding streets of its Medieval Moorish past.
 |
| Albaicín district of Granada |
The highlight for us (and every visitor to Granada) was the visit to the Alambra. Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located on the hills overlooking the Albaicín district. Originally constructed as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by Granada's Moorish Emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar.
 |
| Alambra at night |
It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by the Sultan of Granada. After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella.
 |
| Palace of the Lions |
The Alambra is also noteable as is the location where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition.
 |
| Christopher Columbus received by King Ferninand and Queen Isabella on his return from the New World in 1493. Chromolithograph 1892 - Everett Collection, New York |
After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the buildings occupied by squatters, Alhambra was rediscovered following the defeat of Napoleon, who had conducted retaliatory destruction of the site, the re-discoverers were first British intellectuals and then other north European Romantic travelers.
 |
| Palace of the Lions Garden |
It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well-known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and surrounding gardens.
 |
| Overlooking Albaicín district |
 |
| Palacio de Generalife Gardens |
 |
| Carlos V Palace |
The Skipper
No comments:
Post a Comment