Spain: España

I’m going to start with Spain because I am very familiar with this country. Especially the southern autonomous community: Andalucía. (These are similar to what Americans would call States.)

I lived in the city of Granada for 2 years and loved every minute of it! This city has it all: culture, clubs, restaurants, parks, cafés, bars, food, shopping, nature, everything! If you are planning a trip to Spain, definitely include Granada on your list of places to visit.

Granada is most famous for the Alhambra (an ancient Arabic castle/fortress). It’s hard to describe in words how beautiful it is. Every room, passage, and garden is extremely intricate.

La Alhambra : View from El Albayzín

There are five main spots to visit while at the Alhambra: the Generalife, the Alcazaba, the Towers and higher Alhambra, the Nasrid Palaces, and the Charles V Palace. Each one is as beautiful as the last, but also very different.

My favorite spot is the Generalife. It is full of beautiful lush gardens and fountains. It is so peaceful, intimate, and zen-like, you could lose yourself-or find yourself there! As you walk around the gardens, you hear the trickling water from the fountains and smell the flowers around you. There are also very cute, lazy stray cats basking in the sun. This is the place where the old Arab kings would come and rest. I would definitely recommend spending a good amount of time here to recharge your batteries.

Generalife: Walking path     

                                                        Generalife: Patio de Acequia

My second favorite spot is Nasrid Palace. This area has extremely intricate carvings on the walls, high arches, domed ceilings, high-coffered ceilings, and beautiful latticework. Much of it has Arabic writing carved into the walls and beautiful tile work throughout. Nothing I say can do the beauty of this area justice. The first time I saw it, I didn’t know where to look! There is so much going on, all of it beautiful!

                                                                  Nasrid Palace

Nasrid Palace

Nasrid Palace: Arabic carvings in wall tiles

All of the other spots in the Alhambra are beautiful and amazing as well. From the high Tower, you get an unobstructed view of Granada and the Sierra Nevada Mountians. It’s a great place to take pictures and soak up the beauty of the city and the Alhambra. This is where I like to finish my tour because everything you’ve visited comes together into one big, unobstructed picture. It is absolutely breathtaking!

The Alcazaba (The oldest part of the Alhambra)

El Torre de la Vela (Watch Tower)

View of Granada from el Torre de la Vela

When I lived in Granada, I visited the Alhambra four times in two years. Not nearly enough! Every time I went, I saw things I had missed before. It is truly an experience you do not want to miss.

You can purchase your tickets at the Tienda de la Alhambra (Alhambra Shop) on Calle Reyes Católicos nº 40, in Granada, by telephone:  Phone in Spain: 902 88 80 01/ Phone Abroad: +34 958 926 031, or at http://www.ticketmaster.es/en/recintos/la-alhambra-de-granada/ .

I always purchased my tickets at the Tienda de la Alhambra. I recommend buying your tickets in advanced because the Alhambra only allows so many people per day though its doors. Your ticket will have a time on it. That time is when you are allowed into the Nasrid Palaces. You do not want to be late because you will not be allowed into the Nasrid Palaces if you miss you time. Once you’ve finished your Nasrid Palace tour, you can spend as much time as you want freely moving through the rest of the Alhambra. Because of this, I would recommend booking your Nasrid Palace reservation early so that you can spend as much time as you want roaming the rest of the Alhambra before it gets dark. Although, seeing the Alhambra at night is absolutely stunning. However, you can see the glowing Alhambra at night from many other points in the city.

I’ll be sharing much more about all of the amazing things to do and see in Granada, so stay tuned!