History
Granada was originally an Iberian and Celtic settlement although the Greeks established a presence in the 5th BC century which they called Elibyrge. Under Roman rule, the city minted its own coins. When the Roman Empire crumbled, the Visigoths upheld the city’s long held traditions of civil administration and military importance.
In 711 the Moors took control of the city after conquering the wider region of what is now known as Spain. The Moors had continued and improved on much of the Roman infrastructure and introduced new agricultural practices and extended irrigation systems. New crops were grown in the area including citrus fruits and peaches. The city was fought over for many years and in 1010 the city was destroyed then rebuilt under the supervision of the Moors. The reconstructed city included the suburb of Gharnata, which is where the name Grenada originated.
Granada was declared a state in the Kingdom of Castile in 1238. It provided a trade and diplomatic connection with Muslim and Arab centres. Popular trades were in gold from parts of north-Africa. The city also provided troops for the Kingdom of Castile. Granada became the last city in Spain to surrender to the Catholic monarchs in 1492. The terms of the Moors’ surrender allowed for them to stay in the city without molestation or prejudice. However, in 1499 the local Cardinal grew tired of waiting for Muslims to be converted to Christianity and a series of forced baptisms followed.
In 1501 a Muslim rebellion lead to the repeal of the treaty and all remaining Muslims were forced to emigrate. The majority of the local Muslim population stayed and converted to Christianity.
Population
Granada is situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the rivers Beiro, Darrro and Genil meet. It sits at an elervation of 758 metres although it is only an hour’s drive from the coast. The 1996 Alpine World Championships were held at the nearby Sierra Nevada Ski Station. According to the 2005 census, Granada had a population of 236,000, although the population of the wider urban area was estimated to be 472,000. This makes it the 13th largest conurbation in all of Spain. Just over 3% of the population hold foreign passports with the majority of immigrants coming from South America.
Places to Visit
The Alhambra – Many consider the Alhambra to be one of the ten wonders of the world. It is a huge castle that was constructed over several centuries. It was originally home to many Arabian rulers and this is reflected in the architecture and opulent nature of the interior. It also has beautiful gardens and several fortifications to explore. The Koran is full of references to heaven being a garden with running water. The Islamic rulers have clearly sought to create this. An incredible 8500 people visit the Alhambra every day!
The Albaicin – Located on a hill opposite the Alhambra, the Albaicin is the ancient Arabic quarter of the city. Full of Spanish and Arabic charm, the old quarter consists of many winding cobbled streets and white-washed cottages. There are several squares and terraces to explore and many cafes and restaurants to grab a quick bite. There are also many shops selling traditional Spanish gifts and merchandise.
Sacromonte – When the Gypsies arrived in Spain around 600 years ago, they congregated in caves in Sacromonte. It is thought the mixture of the Gypsy and Arabic cultures gave birth to Flamenco! The neighbourhood is full of top quality Flamenco shows, one of which attracted the former President, Bill Clinton. The area is a typically beautiful part of Spain with ancient buildings and streets with a real feeling of history.
Pedro Alarcon – A lively part of the city with many bars, restaurants and dancing venues and is very popular with young people.
Calle Elvira – A more laid-back area of the city with more quiet bars and restaurants. A lot of Flamenco shows and Jazz performances can be found here.
Cuisine
The food found throughout Granada is of the highest quality and is heavily influenced bu the city’s Arabian past. Direct from the mountain ranges comes the local favourite, jamon de trevelez. This may be the best known local speciality and is a snow-cured ham. The region has a very diverse cuisine which includes Rabbit and goat. The region is also famed for its partridge marinated in brine, paprika porridge and chicken with garlic. Another local favourite is migas which is wheat flour fried in olive oil.
The use of fish is widespread in Spain and although there is a much more varied cuisine in this region than others, fish features heavily on most menus. Espetones is a local delicacy, with fried fish platters and barbecued sardines also immensely popular. The locally famous dish, Sacromonte Omelette is not for the squeamish, consisting of vegetables, brains and bulls testicles. Habas Fritas con Jamon is hugely popular among the locals and its literal translation is fried beans with cured ham. Granada is also famed for its baked goods. Piononos is a delicate cake, filled with cream and soaked in syrup. Sweetened pumpkin and chestnut soup are also local favourites.
Climate
As with most parts of Spain, the weather in Granada is generally warm and dry. Summers in the area are extremely hot and almost unbroken sun is guaranteed between the months of June and September. The heat in this region is dry with little humidity. The average temperature during July and August is in the high 20Cs, however, it is not unusual for temperatures to touch on 40C so siestas are very popular in the area! Many of the city’s festivals take place during the summer nights when it remains warm and pleasant.
Spring in Granada is very pleasant with temperatures always warm but never uncomfortable. It can still be rather chilly at night with the very occasional overnight frost. The temperature in May will be well over 20C, marking the very beginning of summer. Showers are not unheard of but are rarely heavy and blue skies usually follow shortly behind.
October and September experience average temperatures of around 20C. This makes it a popular time to visit for the elderly. Nights can get particularly chilly and there are more showers around than any other time of the year. Winter is generally mild with average temperatures in December and January of about 10C. However, it can quite often get close to freezing during many winter nights, with morning frosts becoming quite common. Despite the cooler weather, winters still offer mild daytime temperatures and endless blue, cloudless skies.
Transport
The main bus station in Granada can be found 3km north-west of the city. All services operate from this station, except for a few that go to local villages and towns which often start at the centre of town. There are regular services to Cordoba, Seville and Malaga. It is also only €15 to travel to Madrid with regular daily services. It is also possible to travel to many coastal resorts, towns and villages by bus from Granada.
Car rental in Granada is readily available from several providers at the airport. This is the best and most economical way to explore the wider area – particularly for groups and families. Granada’s train station is located only 1.5km outside the city centre and offers regular and affordable services to local towns and villages as well as Seville, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Grenada airport is well serviced by many airlines including budget services from operators like Ryanair and Easyjet.
Granada city is relatively small and many parts can be reached on foot. There are taxis available in abundance in most parts of the city. Spanish taxis are generally very affordable, however, it is worth checking the driver is using a meter. Buses within the city are also easy to use and affordable, but for groups and families, taxis are probably more a convenient and economical.
