Monthly Archives: January 2012

Plaza Nueva – The centre of Granada

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View of Plaza Nueva from the central apartments.

The image above is very useful for understanding the layout of Granada. Plaza Nueva is considered to be the absolute centre of Granada from a tourist point of view.  The tower on the right of the the photo is the Torre de la Vela which is a big tower in the Alhambra. On the right between the two buildings is the Cuesta Gomeres which is a hill which goes up to the Alhambra. Just in front of that are the bus stops for the C30 and C32 minibuses which will take you to lots of interesting places in Granada.  On the left is the Albayzin district. In the valley between the Alhambra and the Albayzin runs the River Darro which is very picturesque Right in the distance straight ahead is the Sacromonte neighbourhood.  There is a taxi rank underneath the trees. The picture is taken from the start of the Calle Elvira famous for its lively night life.

Some links:

Tapas bars around Plaza Nueva

History and info about Plaza Nueva

Bars and restaurants around Plaza Nueva

See more photos of Plaza Nueva.

See map of Plaza Nueva

Get to Plaza Nueva on the bus More info

The nearest hotels to Plaza Nueva More info

What is the Albaicín?

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Albayzin Granada

The Albaicin is a “barrio” (a neighbourhood) of Granada which has been built on a hill opposite the Alhambra. The layout came about when Granada was ruled by the Arabs long before the advent of cars so the streets form a narrow cobblestoned maze interspersed with small squares.  The  geranium filled balconies, glimpses of the Alhambra at every turn, the silence and the sound of running water in numerous fountains all give the Albayzin  a romantic slightly enchanted atmosphere.

San Miguel Bajo

There are lots of squares in the Albaicín perfect for al fresco dining, people watching and generally chilling out hopefully with some good company. The photo above shows San Miguel Bajo but there are many more squares with open-air restaurants such as Plaza Larga, Paseo de los Tristes, Plaza San Nicolas etc.

The photo above shows the stones which cover the streets of the Albayzin. Car access is difficult or impossible in the labyrinth of streets. This can make building work difficult because it is difficult to transport the materials. It was possible to hire a man with a  donkey  to bring sand but sadly the last donkey powered haulage contractor retired in 2002. Comfortable footwear is necessary in the Albayzín, wearing high heels would be a big mistake.

Plaza Larga on market day

The Albayzin is not just a tourist attraction. In the photo above we can see Plaza Larga on market day. Many of the geraniums on the balconies are bought here. There are normally a couple of gypsies selling live snails from a bucket.

How to get to the Albaicín ?
The C30 and C32 minibus do a constant loop of the Albayzin and they pass by every 15 minutes or so. The most popular alighting point is Plaza Nueva.

What to do in the  Albaicín ?
The Albaicin is all about eating out in restaurants and wandering around.  An example of a good plan would be to get the minibus to Mirador de San Nicolas which has an amazing view of the Alhambra, then go and eat in an outside restaurant.  Then afterwards just wander about without a map and see where you end up

Where to stay in the Albaicín ?
Granadainfo.com have a large selection of places to stay. Accommodation in Granada

Links:

More photos of the Albayzin

Walking routes in the Albaicin

Restaurants and other establishments in the Albayzin

Map of the Albayzin

 

Information about monuments and places in Granada

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Torre de la Vela

Torre de la Vela Granada - From here you can see the whole of Granada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some links to information about monuments and places in Granada.

MONUMENTS AND PLACES

Alcaicería Hospital Real
Carmen de los Mártires
Carthusian Monastery (Cartuja)
Sacromonte
Corral de Carbón
OTHER
Kings and Queens

When was the Alhambra built?

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The Alhambra

The Alhambra was first mentioned during the reign of Abdullah ibn Muhammad (888-912) when it was referred to as a primitive small  red castle where the Arabs sought refuge after being defeated in one of their battles with the Muladies. It was then largely abandoned until the 11th century when it was rebuilt in order to protect a Jewish settlement on the Sabika hill. Major reconstruction, however, was undertaken during the Nasrid dynasty (1212-1492) and it is this that we can see today.

Serious work on the Alhambra began in 1238 under the command of Sultan Muhammad I Ibn Nasr and in only one year, the ramparts had been completed, water had been brought from the river and a water channel built.