Granada

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Granada is an historical city located in the South of Spain. The city used to be a Moorish kingdom and is now one of the country’s most visited places. The city is known for its Islamic heritage, mainly the Alhambra palace. Those who choose to discover this city will be able to walk around the ancient cobbled streets, visit the many palaces and discover the local cuisine.

The Alhambra was built in the XIIIth Century. This fortress is known for its Moorish architecture, with many tiled courtyards decorated with arches. Visitors have to buy the tickets before visiting the site, since excursions to this historical fortress are limited. After the tours visitors can walk around the Alhambra’s gardens, known for their Moorish architecture.

Many tours include a visit around the ancient Alcazaba fortress and its Torre de la Vela tower, known for its observation platform with views towards the city. Tha Generalife Palace is an ancient place located nearby. Visitors can walk around its gardens, which are filled with jasmine, fountains and sculptures.

The Cathedral is designed in Gothic and Renaissance styles. The Catholic Kings are buried in the royal chapel of this cathedral. Inside the cathedral there is a museum where visitors can see many artifacts, paintings and Royal heirlooms, Fernando II of Aragon’s sword and Isabel I of Castille’s crown being the most notable.

The Monasterio de la Cartuja is an ancient monastery built in the Baroque and Gothic styles. The Monsaterí­o de San Jerónimo was built by the Catholic kings and remains a monastery of the Hieronimyte monks.

The Tourist Office is located in the Corral de Carbón, an historical Moorish building which used to be a storage barn and was later converted into an inn for merchants. The city’s Arab influence is notable in the many Arab baths and hammams that are present in this city, where visitors will be able to enjoy traditional spa treatments.

The Albaicí­n district is an area of the city known for its architecture. Guarded by the Elvira Gate, the buildings in this neighbourhood have influences of Arab, Christian and Jewish styles. There are many traditional tea houses, restaurants and shops.

One of the city’s main attractions are its tapas bars. Tapas are complimentary snacks that accompany drinks. To spend an afternoon hopping from one bar to the next is a way of discovering the city and its culture through gastronomy. By ordering a caí±a and one of the local wines visitors get a tapa, which may range from the potato omelette tortilla de patata to the cold tomato soup gazpacho. Typical tapas are jamón ibérico, olives, potatoes doused with olive oil and stuffed peppers.

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A typical recipe of Andalusian Gazpacho for four people.

1 kilo of ripe tomatoes.

1 green pepper.

1 cucumber, around 250g.

1 onion, around 100g.

1 clove of garlic.

3 tablespoons of olive oil.

White wine vinegar, around 2 tablespoons.

1 teaspoon of salt.

Cold water.

Steps

1. Wash the vegetables.

2. Chop the tomatoes.

3. Chop and seed the pepper.

4. Mince the garlic.

5. Peel and dice the onion.

6. Peel and chop the cucumber.

7. Place all of the above in a blender and blend until it achieves a smooth texture.

8. Add olive oil, salt and vinegar according to taste.

9. If the mixture is still thick, add more olive oil and cold water and blend until it has a smooth, soup texture.

10. Leave it in the fridge until it is cold and serve with chopped cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.