The one city in Spain that must not be missed is Granada, so they say. It is a Spanish city that is so rich in historical as well as architectural splendor that it has earned itself the famed title of National Monument.

Granada Beauty

This is especially an act of homage to the resplendent 14th century Alhambra, a castle cum fortress like no other. This extraordinary monument is symbolic of the best of Moorish architecture raised high on the mountains with the looming Sierra Nevada breathing down on it. Its monument is a reminder of the two centuries-long Arabic history in Granada until the Spanish Christian Re-conquest in 1492 after a 10-year battle led by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

The reason for Alhambra’s astounding beauty is the numerous fortresses, palaces and gardens that overlook the lush and productive valley plains with Granada town spreading like a skirt about it. The Alcazaba is the oldest fortress at Alhambra, being one of many, that has an awesome courtyard decorated with outstanding towers. It was after the creation of Alcazaba that different conquerors tried their hand at competing with it; this led to the creation of other buildings in Alhambra such as chapels, palaces and fortresses, most of which had an Arabic motif and impressive ceiling paintings that are Islamic in nature, with courtyards overflowing with fountains and orange trees.

The Alhambra is already well famed on its own merit with its amazing splendor, but was brought to higher fame through Washington Irving, an American diplomat, who depicted Alhambra as a romantic oasis in his 1832 novel ‘Tales from the Alhambra’. You can refer to the official Alhambra website for more information about the Alhambra palace.

But there is more to Granada besides the Alhambra. There are the worthy sights of the city which houses the Gothic Cathedral that holds Alonso Cana’s numerous religious paintings, a girls’ school set in the 16th century, ‘Noble Girls School’, as well as the elaborately adorned architecture Ecclesiastic Curia, a medieval court or some form of monastery.

Molded by Granada’s Rich History

It is the shrewdness of historical maneuvers of over two centuries that shapes Granada current glory. Its Christian kingdom and Merinid Muslim influences impacted Granada with a rich medieval culture that lasts till today. The place was prosperous under the rules of SultanYusuf I, from 1334 to 1354, and Sultan Mohammed V, from 1354 to 1391.

These Muslim sultans were mainly responsible for most of the Alhambra palace features that still exist today. The city was embroiled in a civil war between the sultans’ wives until the final Moorish king succumbed to defeat in 1492 even as the Christian Re-conquest started taking over the reign as of 1479 to establish the united Spanish Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragón through the marriage between Fernando and Isabel. The royal couple went on to conquer Málaga, Ronda and Almería making the Christian Re-Conquest in Spain complete.

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