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Sunset over Granada´s Alhambra Palace.

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Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.

One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.

At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style. For information about visiting times, tickets etc click here.

The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.

The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community.

The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans. For more interesting facts about Granada click here.

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Hotels in Granada
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Hotels in Granada
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More than 110 hotels and apartments in Granada City and Province. Online reservations from budget to luxury accommodations. Make your choice!

Cortijo Balzaín
9 Country houses at Natural Park of Sierra Nevada. Granada City (10 min.) Ski Resort (40 min). Swimming-pool, restaurant and kids playground.

Charming Accommodation Group
Recently restored self catering apartments in traditional area of the Albaycin, Granada, facing the arabic palace "La Alhambra".

Hotel Santa Isabel La Real
Restored house from the XVI century, situated on the historical neighbourhood of the Albaizyn.

Andalucia Natural
A careful selection of rural holiday homes between Las Alpujarras and Costa Tropical Andalucia.

Lawrences' Cottages for Rent
Lawrence Bohme, artist, author and conference interpreter, lives in Montefrio, in the west of Granada Province.

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Essence Travel
Over a decade of specialist local knowledge. We offer taylor-made activity, walking & villa breaks

Arab Baths of Granada
Seductive atmosphere, with its surrounding waters and Arabian inspired decoration, see the magical culture "Al Andalus".


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