Outdoor adventures await in Granada, Spain. Granada is the capital city inside the province of Granada and within Andalucia. The name Granada comes from Arabic and means “hill of strangers.” Sierra National Park in Granada offers hiking trails with beautiful vistas, skiing, and camping. Granada, Spain is rich in history and culture, promising substantial research opportunities for any college student looking to study abroad. The culture in Granada is inviting. Granda is known for giving out free tapas in certain bars. Tapas come free with beer in Granada. If thats not enough, Granada has world famous beer spas where you can bathe in Spanish beer. The opportunities to explore Spanish history and culture are everywhere in Granada. The historical, architectural, and cultural impacts of the different people groups who ruled Spain is exciting and unique. The ancient Iberians, Muslims, and Christian rulers all left their architectural mark in Granada. The Alhambra palace is an incredible piece of Muslim architecture. The Alhambra is a UNESCO world heritage site and is a must see for anyone visiting or moving to Granada. Spelunking in Cogollos, hot air ballooning, and island tours of the city of Nerja are just a few of the exciting excursions available. These expeditions leave from Granada. The snow capped mountains in Sierra National Park are captivating and hold the southernmost ski resort in Europe. Inside the Sierra National Park there are hiking, mountain biking, and skiing trails. You can go from the skiing slopes of the Sierra to swimming at the coast in the same day. There are villages in the Sierra Nevada like La Calahorra. In La Calahorra there is a castle called Castillo de La Calahorra and the visiting hours are 10AM – 1PM and 4PM to 6PM. This Castle has a simple design and a Renaissance colonnaded courtyard. The old Arabic quarter of Granada was taken over by the Moors in the 8th century. Some of the buildings from that time period are still standing today. One of these structures is the El Banuelo, an 8th century Muslim bath house. Although it no longer functions as a bath house, El Banuelo is open to visitors and tourists. Sacremonte, Granada was where Roma people settled in into cave homes built into the rock. Sacremonte is famous for its dance clubs where Moorish dances are still performed today. Granada is also home to many street artists, one who is known as El Nino. El Nino’s real name is Paul Ruiz, and his artwork is famous worldwide. The street art scene is an important part of modern culture in Spain. The urban areas in Granada are rich with art. There is also a huge bazaar in Alcaiceria that offers many different products including rugs, ceramics, and fabrics. If you want something a little lighter, try out the teahouse scene. Snacks, tea, and mellow vibes make teahouses in Granada a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of street life in Spain. Because of the geography, culture, history, art, and food there are lots of opportunities for adventure in and around Granada. There is something for everyone. Something amazing is waiting for you just around the corner in Granada.
Chris Chaplow, “Andalucia.com,” Andalucia.com, 11/22/2021, Andalucia.com.
