Granada is a province in the region of Andalusia situated in Southern Spain. The capital of the province has the same name and is listed as a World Heritage city. It has many cultural influences that make uo it's past and present, including Moorish, Islamic, Jewish and Christian. Spanish tourism numbers suggest that the city is one of the most popular and visited parts of the nation. Check out what travel Granada Spain can offer the tourist.
The city is built with the largest mountain range in southern Spain, the Sierra Nevada, as a backdrop. From many locations, notably the Alhambra, you will get an excellent view of the snow capped mountain range.
Granada City – A Rich Cultural Diversity
The story of Granada's past portrays the myriad influences that many cultures have left on the city's architecture. The city flourished as a capital and trading center of many Moorish rulers. It was then taken over by King Ferdinand II of Spain in1492. The city grew in christian religious importance when a cathedral was built and intellectually when a university was established in 1531.
Preceding the takeover of the city by Christian monarchs, the arcitecture represented the ideas of the Moorish leaders. Although many Moorish buildings were destroyed during the Christian era, Granada still represents the most complete group of Moorish building and architecture in present day Europe.
With Christian rule, came Christian ideas, notably in the architecture where Gothic and Renaissance designs predominated.
The mix of Moorish, Islamic and Chistian architecture and influences in the city dating back hundreds of years is a great attraction for any tourist keen to see a lost past.
The province’s mountainous setting has preserved the patchwork quilt like perspective into the cultures which have influenced Granada. Travel Granada Spain via train and you will get a more complete and accurate picture of the many different cultural influences that make up the city as a whole. It is a relaxing and efficient way to get to Granada by taking the high speed train from Madrid Atocha. In fact, the lively tapas bars of Granada and the serene nature of the Alhambra palace is just a few hours away by train when using the fast train from Madrid.
When in Granada, speaking some Spanish will give you a better time and perspective on your experiences. An ideal and fast Spanish language course is Rocket Spanish. Visit Rocket Spanish course for more details on how this course can get your fluent in Spanish in a few months. This includes Rocket Spanish Reviews and details on the Rocket Spanish audio componets of the package.