FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Up: La Alhambra – Granada, Spain
October 8, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Up: La Alhambra – Granada, Spain
- The Alhambra is the last and greatest Moorish palace in Europe. The name Alhambra comes from an Arabic root which means “red or crimson castle” due to the hue of the towers
and walls that surround the entire hill of La Sabica which by starlight is silver but by sunlight is transformed into gold. The Alhambra was an “alcazaba” (fortress), an “alcázar” (palace) and a small “medina” (city), all in one. This triple character helps to explain many distinctive features of the monument.
- The alcazaba fortress, created originally for military purposes, was the first structure to be built dating to the 9th Century. It was followed by the alcázar Palacios Nazaries which is the jewel of Alhambra. This 13th century Moorish royal palace consists of carved wood ceilings, ceramic tiles, molded-plaster walls, stucco “stalactites” and filigree windows. It’s an incredibly impressive size with 9 different rooms and areas. The medina consisted of residences for members of the court. The Generalife Gardens were the Sultan’s summer palace with extensive vegetable and fruit gardens.
- The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabel) conquered the city of Granada. Later, various structures were built for prominent civilians, also military garrisons, a church and a Franciscan monastery. Charles V’s Palace featuring Renaissance architecture was built in the 15th Century.
- We stayed at the Parador de Granada San Francisco which was originally a Moorish palace and converted into a Franciscan monastery in the 14th century.
Generalife Gardens
- In the summer of 2007, more than 90 million people cast their votes to determine which architectural marvels in the world deserved to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There were a total of twenty-one landmarks vying for that title.
- Of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt still stand. The pyramids were given an automatic spot after infuriated Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace to have to compete for something that had belonged to their country for so long. I agree! We saw them in 2007.
- It is our goal to see all twenty-one landmarks. Also, Chris and I have collectively seen a lot of the twenty-one, however, not together. So the rule is, we go back and see all of them together!
New 7 Wonders of the World we’ve been to:
- #1 Chichen Itza, Mexico – 2005
- #2 Great Wall of China – 2010
- #3 Machu Picchu, Peru – February, 2012
- #4 Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro – February, 2012
- #5 The Coliseum – Rome, Italy – August, 2012
New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Ups we’ve been to:
- #9 Statue of Liberty, New York – 2005
- #10 Sydney Opera House, Australia – 2005
- #11 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul – 2007
- #12 Acropolis, Athens – 2007
- #13 Angkor Wat, Cambodia – 2010
- #14 Eiffel Tower, Paris – 2010
- #15 Stonehenge, England – 2011
- #16 Alhambra, Spain – August, 2012
FUN-travel: La Alhambra – Granada, Spain
September 3, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: La Alhambra – Granada, Spain
Trip Day 47 – Sunday, August 26 – Granada, Spain
Palacios Nazaries
What I LIKE
Palacios Nazaries
- being able to sleep in the walled city of La Alhambra
- 8:00 – good, hot coffee on patio overlooking gardens
- nice fresh fruit & sandwich for later
- 10:00 – depart for guided tour of La Alhambra
- 10:30 – start our tour
- headsets are provided so you can hear the guide
- Enrique – very dapper man – is the “best” guide we’ve had in Spain
- 1st stop – Palacio del Partal
- 2nd stop – Charles V’s Palace – impressive Renaissance building
- 3rd stop – Palacios Nazaries – the jewel of Alhambra – 14th century Moorish royal palace – consists of carved wood ceilings, ceramic tiles, molded-plaster walls, stucco “stalactites” & filigree windows – impressive size of 9 different rooms & areas
- 4th stop – Alcazaba – the original 13th century fortress
- 5th stop – Generalife Gardens – Sultan’s summer palace & the vegetable & fruit gardens
- 1:30 – back to parador – beer & siesta
- 8:45 – dinner on patio – Carpaccio, broad beans with jamon, baked cod – Anta Banderas (Antonio Banderas winery)
- dessert splurge – melody of sherbet & fresh fruit
Generalife
- no bugs
- warm & not humid
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- still bothered by being charged for dinner in Nerja
- shame on me for not checking or asking @ check in
FF (FUN-fact) – The Alhambra is the last and greatest Moorish palace in Europe.
More FF – The Parador de Granada San Francisco was once a Moorish palace and was converted into a Franciscan monastery in the 14th century.
FUN-travel: Nerja to Granada, Spain
September 3, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Nerja to Granada, Spain
Trip Day 46 – Saturday, August 25 – Nerja to Granada, Spain & La Alhambra
Granada
What I LIKE
Alcaicería
- 8:30 – good hot coffee
- 9:30 – take lift down to beach
- walk along promenade & back on the sand
- 10:30 – breakfast fruit & sandwich for later
- 12:00 – checkout & ready for next big adventure
- 1:30 – arrive Granada
- 2:00 – check into parador in La Alhambra
- 2:30 – beer on patio overlooking gardens
- 4:30 – 10-minute walk down hill to city of Granada
- using Rick Steves guided tour – start @ Plaza Nueva – see Cathedral – Royal Chapel Square
- Plaza de Bib-Rambla – the original main square & focal point of market & festivals
- Alcaiceria – originally a Moorish silk market with 200 shops – packed into narrow alleyways
- Plaza Isabel La Católica – beautiful statue shows Columbus unfurling a long contract with Isabel
- 6:00 back to Plaza Nueva for a beer
- then walk up Paseo de los Tristes –
- “walk of the sad ones” – once the route of funeral processions to the cemetery
- take the #31 mini bus to Albayzín – walk up to San Nicolás church – majestic views of La Alhambra
View of La Alhambra
- 8:00 bus back to Plaza Nueva – tapas & beer stop @ restaurant with sign that reads “Los mejores tapas en todo el mundo” – broadbeans & ham – YUM!
Plaza Isabel La Católica
- 8:30 – dinner Cunini – locals love this place – bar is standing room only – we have table outside – fresh veggie salad & sea bass
- taxi back up hill $10 Euro
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- charged $94 Euro for breakfast
- dinner was included but no one told us @ check-in
- during high season hotels add “half & full board” charges
- would have liked to spend more time here
- need to make sure you order fillet of fish otherwise you get whole fish with bones (ordered turbot on waiter suggestion, had to send back)
FF (FUN-fact) – For a time, Granada was the grandest city in Spain.