Granada, Home to the Alhambra! : Travel Blog #5
- grace novak
- Feb 20, 2023
- 2 min read
Who would've thought that Spain was so close to Africa? Actually, I'm sure a lot of people were well aware of that fact, but until last week I was not one of them! Our five day stay in Granada, Spain actually included way more African culture than Spanish. From bustling streets selling African themed souvenirs, to a gorgeous Muslim palace on the hill, the culture was unlike anything we'd seen yet!
Our stay in Granada during both the SuperBowl and Valentine's day was so cool and mainly included two notable elements:
La Basilica de San Juan de Dios
Right in downtown Granada, this stunning Basilica added a new meaning to the word ornate. Every centimeter of the walls were covered with intricate carvings, shockingly realistic statues (including one of John the Baptist's head on a platter), gorgeous candelabras, and cases of bones, skin, cloth, and other relics of Saints. As we explored higher back rooms, we even encountered full skulls and urns! It was an experience unlike any we've ever had so far. This Basilica was simply stunning.
La Alhambra
Situated on the hill overlooking all of Granada, this Muslim castle was nothing less than breath-taking as we explored it on Valentine's Day. The very last Muslim fortress to be over taken in the crusades, every inch of the walls and ceiling were covered in hand carved meaningful Islamic designs. The Koran emphasizes plant life and running water to be a huge element of their afterlife, so this castle was created with a garden and fountain around every corner. The symbolism was as if we were walking around their recreation of "heaven on earth." This was my dad's favorite place that he has ever visited!
Our stay in Granada also included a new friend, the cat of the apartment beneath ours! He liked to jump inside and hang out as if he owned the place.
Overall, the places that we visited in Granada were gorgeous. We had a nice stay, although not our favorite ever, but we will never forget the stunning Alhambra!
Churches and Basilicas in other countries are so cool! They are so old, and have been around for hundreds of years. You can feel the history as you walk through them. This was the coolest one I've ever been to. We climbed to the top of one of those towers. There is 1 spiral staircase that is for 2 way traffic and you have to turn sideways to let someone by. Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Cologne, Germany.