Location: Province of Granada
Top Things to do in Province of Granada
Countries
The 10 Best Architectural Buildings in Province of Granada, Andalucia
There’s an Arabic inscription that captures the essence of Granada in a few words: “There is nothing so sad as to be blind in Granada.” The perspicacity of this declaration becomes obvious as soon as you penetrate the austere walls of the Alhambra and take in the full majesty of the architecture, carvings and fountains of the Nasrid palaces. Your ticket (which should be bought well in advance following the instructions on the attraction’s website) also affords entry to the Renaissance Palace of Carlos V and to the exquisite gardens of the Generalife. If you are celebrating a special event, or are in the market for a splurge, you can stay in the lovely Parador, right on site. Make your way down into the city via the atmospheric old quarter of the Albaicin, with its tiny craft shops and restaurants, and head for the Cathedral and Royal Chapel. Also plan a visit to the crypt for the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, the instigators of Spain’s imperial adventures to the New World and beyond. It’s worth making the short journey out of town to visit the Monasterio Cartuja, a fabulous Carthusian monastery in the baroque style. Admirers of the poet Lorca should make the effort to visit the Casa-Museo Federico Garcia Lorca in Fuente Vaqueros, about 11 miles from the city centre.
Restaurants in Province of Granada
1. Court of the Lions
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
No doubt you are at the "Palacios Nazaríes" (Nasrid Palaces) and inside its "Palacio de los Leones" (Palace of the Lions). At its center, the most famous and unforgettable courtyard of Granada's "La Alhambra" - "The "Patio de los Leones" (Court of the Lions)! The finest Moorish artistic styles are immortalized in this courtyard! Its construction by Sultan Muhammed V occurred between 1362 and 1391 and the awesome open-air courtyard became immediately the center of the Royal Family's life and the very heart of "La Alhambra". The beautiful central fountain was a symbol of fine taste and of the power exercised by the Nasrid Sultans of the Emirate of Granada. "Patio de los Leones" is probably one of the most fascinating and photographed sites in the whole world! There is no way one can miss it at any trip to Granada. Very fond and loving memories to take home. Enjoy!
2. Convento Santa Cruz la Real
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
The convent of Santa Cruz la Real is a historical building in the heart of the ancient district of Granada. A peacefull and relaxing atmosphere envolves the cloister, whose construction dates from the sixteenth century. Visitors are just allowed to see the cloister, but under reservation, a free guided tour around the whole building can be offered.
3. Sala De Los Abencerrajes
4. Salon de los Embajadores
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is probably the largest and most imposing room of the Nasrid Palaces that make up the Alhambra complex. It is the main hall inside the Comares Palace, where the king received visiting dignitaries. You enter through the Sala de la Barca (Hall of the Boat) which has an impressive cedar ceiling that looks like the inverted hull of a boat. Most likely, this was reception room. However, the Boat Hall is really just a warm-up routine. It’s the next ceiling in the Ambassador’s Hall that is the absolute highlight. Over 8,000 pieces of interlocking wood makes the roof look like a galaxy of shooting stars. It represents the 7 heavens of Islamic faith and and the stars of paradise. Underneath this celestial ceiling, the king would sit to receive visiting dignitaries. If they weren’t already suitably intimidated, then you have to think this room would leave them speechless. Once you manage to drag your eyes away from the ceiling, you can notice the rest of the room. The lower parts of the walls are covered in geometrically patterned, multi-coloured azulejos (tiles) and higher up, they are covered with an ivory coloured stucco mix of plaster and marble powder. Rows and rows of poetic Arabic inscriptions, quotes from the Koran, and praises to God were carved into the stucco while it was wet. Small, deeply recessed windows, allow you to peer out across the ancient whitewashed Albaicín area and you realise how high up the Alhambra sits. Historically, this room has been the stage for some pretty major, turning-point moments. Fly on a wall, as they say. In this room, Columbus persuaded the Catholic monarchs to support and pay for the expeditions that led to the discovery of America. It is also the room in which Boabdil surrendered the Alhambra to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, handing over the last Spanish stronghold of a Muslim empire on January 2, 1492. As he did so, he famously said “These are the keys to paradise”. Boabdil’s mother, a fearsome woman, equally famously said, “You do well, my son, to cry like a woman for what you couldn’t defend like a man.” TICKETS – Tickets for the Nasrid palaces are timed. If you miss your time slot, you risk missing out altogether. We pre-booked an early time slot and saw the Nasrid palaces first. We spent a lot longer there than we’d imagined but because the other areas (Generalife, museum, Alcazabar) don’t have timed entry slots, we could see them afterwards, at our leisure.
5. The Alhambra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42,039 reviews
The second most visited site in Europe: this breathtaking palace-city is a sophisticated blend of medieval Islamic, Renaissance Christian and modern architectural styles..
Reviewed By 381lianem
A wonderful experience, palaces, wonderful gardens, etc etc. take time to explore, best on your own ... book online the general day pass on the official Alhambra site (well in advance/months before you plan to go, as they are sold out fast) and take the time to enjoy the vast „Alhambra sight in the different day lights. Take Buslinie C32 and C 31 to get to the main entrance of the Alhambra ( Tickets 1,40€/person, available on the bus), it is quite a steep walk from the city center...
6. Royal Chapel of Granada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,080 reviews
The Chapel of the Catholic Kings was conceived as a burial site intimately linked to the Cathedral, but without merging with its architecture. It is built with a single nave, an octagonal presbytery preceded by bleachers, a transept with little development and a choir at its feet, for the functions of a pantheon. As a funeral chapel none, in Spain, it excels in size. In it you can appreciate both its simplicity and its wealth thanks to the generous endowment of the queen. The Royal Chapel houses the mortal remains of Don Fernando de Aragón and Dona Isabel de Castilla (who were initially resting in the convent of San Francisco de la Alhambra), as well as those of Dona Juana I, Don Felipe and Infante Miguel. Under the tombs there is a small crypt of marked austerity, in which are deposited the real, lead coffins, identified by the initial of each name on the cover.
Reviewed By nati_s04 - England, United Kingdom
The entrance is quite cheap, it includes an audio guide, and it's quite stunning to see the beautiful architecture and the sculptures made by the best artist of that time
7. Generalife
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,267 reviews
Reviewed By ANGELOV230 - Milan, Italy
Generalife Palace and gardens are separated from the rest of the Alhambra complex, and it takes 20 to 30 minutes walking through nice botanic gardens to get there from the area where Alcazaba, Palace of Carlos V and Palacios Nazaries are located. The gardens are very beautiful, with a lot of trees, flowers, water fountains where you can see frogs and dragonflies. However, the best part is the Generalife Palace, with stunning rooms with Arabic ornaments.
8. Corrala De Santiago
9. Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By ANGELOV230 - Milan, Italy
Close to the city center of Granada you can find the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo. Entrance is free, you just have to tell which country you came from, and through nice quiet gardens you reach the Palacio de Almanjana - or at least the single tower remaining. This is older than the Nasrid palace of the Alhambra. There is not much to see, just one square room ("qubba") covered by a wooden frame decorated with a coffered ceiling. However, the decorations covering the walls are very well restored and highlighted by sapient lightning. Around the qubba you can see excavations of military buildings, and upstairs there is a space dedicated to exhibitions, which has also nice views on the qubba itself, as well as on the Sierra Nevada.
10. Alcazaba
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 344 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
The climb up the narrow and uneven brick and stone stairs is absolutely worth it when you get to the top. There are 4 towers but unless you’re energetic, then there’s no need to climb them all. The best tower to choose is the Torre de la Vela or Watch Tower. It’s the tallest, it has an excellent viewing platform and the bell tower. It’s the one with the flags. From the top, you get an absolutely panoramic view over Granada and as far away as the distant Siera Nevada mountains, which were covered in snow when we were there. You couldn't have a better vantage point for spotting any advancing armies. You are also standing in exactly the same spot where the Christians triumphantly their flag on 2 January, 1492 when they took back Granada. Every year on that date, the bell still rings out to commemorate the event. The 2 other original towers, built by Mohammed I, are the Torre Quebrada (Broken Tower) and the Torre del Homenaje (the Keep). Another tower was added later, Torre de la Pólvora (Gunpowder Tower). The strange maze like structures as you enter are the Arms Square. It’s where the garrison of soldiers and the military elite lived. Excavations have uncovered what was essentially a small-scale town, with paved streets, public steam baths and bread ovens, plumbing and drainage and a cistern. From ground level, it was hard to make much of it out. It’s best seen from the tower looking down. From higher up, we could start to see where the streets and houses would have stood. TICKETS: * This is included as part of the General Entry ticket (€14.85). * Make sure you keep your entry ticket handy because you’ll need to show it at the Nasrid palaces and also the Generalife. * Unlike the Nasrid Palaces, you don’t have to book a time slot for the Alcazabar. We booked an early time slot for the palaces and saw them first which worked really well because we had no time constraints and were free to explore everything else at our leisure.
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