It’s time to stop your pin on another beautiful mosaic printed part of the world, that is, Spain. A country filled with music and passion, Spain depicts bleeding red colours of passion, of art, architecture and a rich culturally diverse history.

Cádiz – It is a beautiful city of Spain and the capital of the Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia.It is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula off the Atlantic Ocean separated from neighbouring San Fernando by a narrow isthmus.

Among the many landmarks of historical and scenic interest in Cádiz , the city can boast of an unusual cathedral of various architectural styles, a theatre, an old municipal building, an 18th Century watchtower, a vestige of the ancient city wall , an ancient Roman theatre and electrical pylons of an eye catching modern design carrying cables across the Bay of Cádiz.

  • Plaza de Mina – Located in the heart of the old town , Plaza de Mina was developed in the first half of the 19th century.
  • Plaza de San Francisco and San Francisco Church and Convent – Located next to Plaza de Mina , the smaller square houses the San Francisco church and convent.
  • Plaza San Antonio – In the 19th century Plaza San Antonio was considered to be Cádiz’s main square.
  • Plaza de Candelaria – The Plaza de Candelaria is named after the Candelaria convent, situated in the square until it was demolished in 1873 under The First Spanish Republic, when its grounds were redeveloped as a plaza.
  • Plaza de la Cathedral and the Cathedral- One of the Cádiz’s most famous landmark is its cathedral.
  • Plaza de San Juan de Dios and the Old Town Hall- Construction of this plaza began in the 15th century on lands reclaimed from the sea.
  • Plaza de España and the monument to the constitution of 1812
  • Plaza Fragela and the Gran Teatro Falla
  • Tavira Tower – In the 18th Century, Cádiz had more than 160 towers from which local merchants could look out to sea to watch for arriving merchant ships from the New World.
  • Admiral’s House
  • Old customer house
  • Palacio de Congresos
  • Pylons of Cádiz
  • Roman Theatre
  • Carranza Bridge
  • La Pepa Bridge – This bridge officially “ La Papa” and also named the second bridge to Cádiz which crosses the Bay of Cádiz linking with Puerto Real in mainland Spain.

Cádiz , one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, was founded by the Phoneicians. Situated on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea, Cádiz is , in most respects, a typically Andalusian city with well preserved historical landmarks.

Sevilla – Sevilla, city , capital of the provincia of Sevilla, in the Andalusia of southern Spain.Sevilla lies on the left ( east ) bank of the Guadalquivir River at a point about 54 miles ( 87 km) north of the Atlantic Ocean and about 340 miles southwest of Madrid . An inland port , it is the chief city of Andalusia and the fourth largest in Spain.Sevilla was important in history as a cultural centre , as a capital of Muslim Spain, and as a centre for Spanish Exploration of the New World.

A hop on hop off tour should be taken to explore Seville.

  • Plaza de España –
  • Royal Alcázar of Seville
  • Cathedral de Sevilla
  • La Giralda
  • Parque de Maria Luisa
  • Setas de Sevilla
  • Sevilla Museum of Fine Arts
  • Casa de Pilatos
  • Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza
  • Torre del Oro
  • Flamenco Dance Museum
  • Sevilla Aquarium
  • Tirana
  • Basilica de la Macarena .

These are the places of interest here , as much as possible to be completed by hop on hop off tour . Apart from the other parts of the European continent, this southern part of Spain is completely different by the architectural , structural design of the buildings and all . It has a long Sultanate history and that effectively seen at the various places here.

Savour a plate of Tapas, the traditional Spanish appetiser, attending a flamenco show with the beautiful Spanish guitar, roaming through the streets here will give you the true essence of a beautiful Spanish city with it’s rich cultural heritage.

The Alhambra was a real walled “city”, built by the Nasrid Kings in the last period of Muslim rule in Spain.

The name Alhambra comes from the Arabic word qalat -al-hamra , which means “red” , “red castle” or “reddish”.This jewel of Arab Architecture, which was built by the Nasrid Emirs of the Kingdom of Granada in the last period of Muslim rule on the Peninsula.

The Alhambra As A Real City – As a city , Alhambra is not only just the Nasrid Palace or Royal Residence rather it covers a far greater area and was originally a real palatine city, like an Acropolis, fortified and isolated from the city of Granada.

The most characteristic types of construction in every Hispano-Muslim city are the following

  • Religious constructions:- Mosques ( temples) , morabitos( hermitages) and rawdas( cemeteries).
  • Civil constructions:-Private homes, alcazares( palaces) , madrazas( universities) , fondacs ( guest houses), fundqs ( marketplaces for wheat and other goods) and maristanes( hospitals) .
  • Military Constructions :- Alcazabas( fortresses) , towers, access gates to cities and bridges.

The Climb to the Alhambra- There are several possible ways of reaching the Nashrid Monument from the city. The most scenic route is through the Plaza Nueva , in the heart of the city up to the monument through the woods of the Alhambra.

If you start off from this singular Granadine square and climb up the Cuesta Gomérez you will come to the beautiful Puerta de las Granadas ( Gate of Pomegranates) , a Renaissance gate built by order of Emperor Charles Five and designed by the artist Pedro Machuaca around 1536.

In Arab times there were no woods, but there was a cemetery where al-Ahmar and his descendants were buried. The many poplar , chestnut and nettle trees , as well as other species, date from the 16th century and later reforestations in the 19th Century.

The Fountain of Charles Five – This is a lovely Renaissance monument designed by Pedro Machuca and built by the Italian Nicolao da Corte in 1545.

The Gate of Justice – It was built in 1348 by Yusuf I.Inside the gate there is a small winding passageway sloping upwards , an indication of it’s defensive purpose.The next facade is modest, with a horseshoe arch and some interesting remains of old enamelled clay tiles.

The Gate of Wine- Once you have gone through the Gate of Justice , you will come to a straight path which has a stretch of ramparts on the left, partly restored with marble slabs from the Arab cemetery ( Rauda) in Alhambra.This path ends up in the Plaza de los Aljibes and the Puerta del Vino .

The ALCAZABA’S TOWERS- The most emblematic of all the towers is the Torre de la Vela ( Watch Tower) which is also the tallest at a height of twenty seven meters. It’s name in Spanish comes from vigil or vigilance, since you could see everything that was happening in the surroundings from here.

  • The Torre de las Armas- ( Tower of Weapons) housing the Puerta de las Armas ( Gate of Weapons ) is on the north side.
  • The Torre del Homenaje -( keep) is at the north -west apex and next to it, on the east side , is the Torre de la Quebrada ( Broken Tower). Both of them are twenty – two meters high and the most moderate in decoration.
  • The PARAPET GARDEN – This beautiful garden , known as the Jardin de los Adarves in Spanish, located in the south of the Alcazaba , takes its name from the Spanish word “ adarve” which means Parapet , the top part of the ramparts where the parapet walk is.
  • The Nasrid Palaces – They form the Royal Residence or Alcazar , where the official and family life of the Nasrid kings took place .

It is consisting of the three palaces forming the Royale Residence.

  • The Mexuar – This is the oldest of the three palaces forming Royale Residence.
  • Macuca Garden – It is on the east side and it has an arched gallery with a tower next to it and a garden with a geometrical design with a lovely pool in the middle.
  • Mexuar Hall – The hall preserved today is a far cry from the original, as it was altered by the Christian kings.
  • Mexuar Courtyard- The Patio del Mexuar is located at the exit of the Sala del Mexuar.
  • The Golden Room is a small chamber with a wooden ceiling decorated with Arab work, which was gilded with “ gold leaf” in the Christian age.
  • The Facade of Comares Room – It is a splendid as a result of it’s rich decoration and design.

Comares Palace ( Diwan) – This palace was built by Yusuf.It is thought that its use changed after the Palace of the Lions,the third one, was built.When it coexisted with the latter palace, it was used as the king’s workplace, where the court’s official life took place.

  • The courtyard of the Myrtles- This rectangular courtyard is the centre of the palace and its purest lines of Arab architecture measure thirty -seven meters long by almost twenty -four meters wide.
  • Boat room – The Sala de la Barca is located in the north gallery of the courtyard.
  • Hall of Ambassadors- The Salón de Embajadores is just behind the Boat Room.It is the largest and highest room in the entire palace.The decoration looks like large stucco tapestries hanging on the wall and there are different models : shells , flowers, stars…This gives us an idea of the naturalist style of Arab architecture, which tries to bring nature into the home, by showing the real natural world through large outdoor-facing windows, by means of interior gardens and courtyards.The ceiling of this room is a masterpiece of Muslim carpentry.The vault is eighteen metres high and it is made of cedar wood with inlays of different colour forming stars.

The Palace of the Lions( harem) – The Palacio de los Leones , the third palace of Royal Residence, was for the private use of the king and his family.

  • The Courtyard of the Lions- Everything here is an allegory of Paradise and the result is a real living and petrified oasis.The one hundred and twenty-four Macael marble columns surrounding the courtyard symbolise a forest of palm trees.
  • The most striking element of the courtyard is the fountain. They are the four streams of paradise streaming from the rooms surrounding the garden, which are located on a higher level.
  • There are countless legends about its origin and meaning.What does this fountain represent in the centre of the harem? Some people think it represents the twelve month of the year.Others say they are the twelve signs of zodiac, others , more legendary refer to the lions as the tears of a princess, which , when they fell onto the courtyard, emerged as twelve lions.However, the most likely, since the shape and number coincide, is the one that explains its origin in Hebrew art , in the “Sea of Bronze” of Solomon’s temple.
  • Muqarna Hall – Of the four halls surrounding the courtyard, the Sala de los Mocárabes is the first one you come across when you enter from the Patio de los Arrayanes .
  • Hall of the Abencerrajes – The Sala de Abencerrajes is on the south side of the Courtyard and it was apparently the king’s chamber.
  • Hall of the kings- The Sala de los Reyes is located in the east of the courtyard.It is the longest hall in the harem and it is divided into three equal rooms, with another two smaller rooms , which may have been cupboards judging by their location and lack of light.
  • Hall of the two sisters- The Sala de Dos Hermanas is located next to the Hall of the Kings on the north side of the courtyard, it is one of the most beautiful in this palace.
  • Lindaraja Mirador- The small room was the place where the sultan’s favourite relaxed.

Christian section in the Nasrid Palaces-When the Catholic Monarchs conquered Granada they were so surprised by how beautiful the Nasrid Palace was that they even made it their residence for when they visited Granada. They called it the “ Royale Residence of the Alhambra” .

The Emperor’s Rooms- They are next to the Hall of the Two Sisters. It is decorated with coffered ceilings and the motto “ Plus Ultra” together with the initials “ K” and “ Y” , representing the names of the Emperor and his Empress.

The Royal Baths – They were built in the region of Yusuf I ( 1333-1354). They are not always open to the public for preservation reasons, but they are extremely interesting due to the important role and meaning they played in Arab life. They are also known as the Baths of Comares Palace, since they are part of it .

These are consisting of ,

  • Rest Room
  • Cold Room
  • Steam Room
  • Plunge Pool Room
  • Furnace Facilities

The Towers – Long ago this part of the Alhambra was the area in the city inhabited by the most distinguished families in the Alhambra, stood in this area of the monument.This is also where the most splendid towers are , which are so richly decorated that they are like small palaces inside.

These Towers were divided into different parts

  • Partal Palace ( Tower of the Ladies)
  • The Oratory
  • Palace of Yusuf III
  • The Torre de los Picos
  • The Torre de la Cautiva
  • The Torre de las Infantas

The Palace of Charles V – When Charles V came to Granada on his honeymoon, he was enchanted by this city and decided to build a palace in the Alhambra Complex but naturally with European Mentality.

The Cathedral and its surroundings- The streets and squares found here are without a doubt the most important in Granada , as they form the real historic and commercial “centre” of the city. The city’s most emblematic buildings are here , as well as the two best known monuments after the Alhambra: The Cathedral and The Royal Chapel.

  • The church of Sagrario , next to the cathedral, located on the site where the Main Mosque in the city stood;
  • The Madraza , the Arab University where theology and law were studied.
  • The Corral del Carbon – a place of meeting and accommodation for the merchants of Muslim Granada.
  • The best part of this area in Granada is Plaza Bibarrambla, one of the most typical squares in the city. This is where the former Muslim Metropolis ended.
  • Next to this square is the Alcaiceria , a secluded reminder of the old Muslim city.
  • The Cathedral- The Cathedral is an example of the purest Renaissance art, but as a result of the extremely long construction period , it is a mixture of Gothic , Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism.However, the majority is Renaissance style.
  • The Royal Chapel – The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of castle, ordered a Chapel to be built by a Royal Warrant so that their mortal remains could be buried there.
  • The Plaza de la Universidad is very central , near the Cathedral.It is a secluded square with it’s beautiful surroundings.

Sierra Nevada – This Sierra Nevada and National Park is mainly in the province of Granada, but also covers Almeria , to some extent.The highest peaks on the Iberian Peninsula are to be found in this Sierra , with sixteen over 3000 meters high.

The best known are:

  • Mulhacén – The highest on the peninsula, with a height of 3428 meters.
  • Veleta with 3396 m and Alcazaba with 3364 m.
  • The wealth of it’s flora and fauna resulted in it declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 1986 and as a natural park in 1989 and a National Park in 1999.
  • The most well known part of the Sierra Nevada is its Ski Resort, the most southern and for many the best in Spain .
  • The best part of the Sierra Nevada is its landscape’s beauty and diversity.Of the 8000 species are catalogued for the entire peninsula.More than sixty types of birds , ranging griffon vulture or golden eagle , the largest to other smaller ones, such as the alpine accentor , the ring ouzel and the rock thrush.Among the mammals are : moles , foxes , weasels , badgers and the Spanish Wild Goat.
  • In the spring and summer months , with the thaw , the snow starts to disappear from the highest peaks , the gullies starts to fill with streams and water and the many lakes – pools to be found here .
  • Green meadows covered in sheep and small flowers of many different colours also appear.
  • This is the best time to visit this part of upper Sierra.

The Coast : The Province of Granada has more than a hundred kilometres of coastline, located between the Coast of Malaga and the coast of Almeria.It is known locally as the Tropical Coast , since due to its special microclimate, with over three hundred days of sun per year and an average annual temperature of twenty degrees centigrade, it is the ideal place to grow tropical fruit and vegetables.

Caminito del Rey – It is a UNESCO WORLD Heritage site and the hiking part of the southern Spain.

Flamenco- It is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and Murcia. In a wider sense , the term is used to refer to a variety of both contemporary and traditional musical styles typical of southern Spain.

Last updated on December 19, 2023