Thursday, 23 January 2014

10 –13 January 2013 – Granada, Andalucía, Spain

Granada was the last Muslim city to be conquered by the Christians in 1492, led by Queen Isabel of Castile and King Fernando of Aragon.  Pope Alexander IV rewarded them with the title of Los Reyes Catolicos (Catholic Monarchs) for their efforts in defending the Catholic faith.

Statue of Queen Isabel granting Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus) ships and supplies for the discovery voyage to the New World in the Plaza de Isabel la Católica

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Boabdil the last Muslim ruler, is said to have shed tears on his departure from Granada and after seeing the Alhambra Palaces and its lush green gardens, we could understand why.

Sunset view of the Alhambra Palace complex from the Mirador San Nicolas at the highest point of the Albaicin (the old Moorish medina), with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada in the background

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The Nasrid Palaces – the jewel of the Alhambra complex

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View from the ramparts of the Alcazaba (fortress)

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The Generalife – the Summer Palace and Gardens of the Alhambra

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A well-earned paella for dinner after walking around the Alhambra all day

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The entrance to the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel), a mausoleum containing the intricately carved marble tombs of Isabel and Fernando and those of their unfortunate daughter Juana La Loca (Joanna the Mad) and her husband Felipe El Hermoso (Philip the Handsome)

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Statue of Flamenco artists

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Plaza Romanilla, known by the locals as “Plaza del Burro” because of the donkey statue

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1 comment:

  1. Stunning photos. Are those blueberries in the paella?

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