The story goes back to the times of the Moorish kingdom, when Granada flourished as its capital and was the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, only to be reconquered by the Christians in 1492. With the arrival of the Catholic monarchs, the town saw the darkest times of the Inquisition, when tens of thousands of Jews and Muslims were forcibly baptized, and those who were not found diligent enough in their new faith, or had property that could conveniently be confiscated by the church, often ended up on the stake. Isabel and Fernando, however, left their mark on history not only by paving the way for the Inquisition but also by financially supporting the expedition of Christopher Columbus to the New World. In more recent times, Granada was the home of Federico Garcia Lorca, Spain’s celebrated poet and playwright who was shot by a firing squad during the Civil War.

The Alhambra castle is the most frequently visited monument, not only in Granada but in the whole of Spain, receiving about 8,000 visitors daily. An imposing compound of buildings which acted as a fortress, a palace and a small city all in one was built by the Nasrid dynasty from 1238 onwards, and reflected the Islamic notion of heaven, abundant in flowing water. From 1492, Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon set their court at the Alhambra. New palaces were added as well as a barracks, a church and a Franciscan monastery. Surprisingly, the massive crimson ramparts of the Alhambra hide buildings and gardens of exquisite beauty. The Renaissance-style Palace of Charles V is remarkable for its round porticoed courtyard and imposing façade. Generalife was the summer villa of the Islamic rulers, surrounded by lavish gardens with long rows of fountains.

There are two places worth recommendation for those who wish to see the beautiful panorama of the city. One is the military complex of the Alhambra castle – the Alcazaba. It consists of towers, ramparts and parapet walks offering a great view. Moreoever, on the hill opposite the Alhambra lies the Albaicin, the picturesque old Arabic quarter, a maze of steep narrow streets winding between whitewashed houses. From there, the view on the Alhambra is breathtaking. Also worth seeing is the labyrinth of alleys of the Alcaiceria that once housed the Grand Bazaar of Grenada. A fire reduced it to ashes in the early 19th Century, and what has been restored is now full of tourist souvenir shops. In the city centre, there is an impressive Gothic Cathedral which houses the Royal Chapel with the tombs of Queen Isabel and King Fernando.