In the Alhambra
The last stop on our trip was Granada!We heard that the city does not have much to offer, apart from the Alhambra, but we found a lot of interesting places to visit and delicious food to eat.
We drove from Madrid to Granada, it is a long journey and it would be best to have an overnight hotel. We did not do that, we drove out early in the morning and returned late at night (past midnight), and were falling asleep at the wheel.
Granada has many shops for fresh tea, per 100g. We love tea and bought about 6 different ones. There is something euphoric about getting to smell and see the leaves of the tea’s that will be fully enjoyed. The prices are decent for tea’s and can make a lovely souvenir for loved ones.
Original wood ceiling in Palacio de la Madraza, from Moorish times
Palacio de la Madraza (it is known by other names as well), was a great stop. It was a mosque, a private home, and is now a University. It has some of the oldest plaster and moldings in Granada and is an interesting stop overall. We can also see how the Alhambra should have been fully colored by the example below. The tour costs a few Euro and they have it in a few different languages.
Inside the Palacio de la Madraza
Next to the Palacio de la Madraza is the Catedral de Granada, which is more impressive on the outside, and around it has some mosaics on the ground.
Not far off we happened upon a place that had the best food that we ate in Spain, Restaurante Oliver. We ate two meals in one day in this restaurant, because the food was cooked just right and was very very fresh. The most stellar dish is their lamb chops, to date the best lamb we have ever tried, but anything on their menu is fantastic, from their octopus to their pork chop. If you’re ever in Granada, you should eat at Oliver at least once!
View from the Alhambra
We visited the Alhambra and it was a great visit, from the aerial views, to the beautiful plaster work all throughout the compound. They have a bit of greenery and all of the magnificent work left behind from the Moorish Empire in Spain. Just a small warning, buy your tickets online in advance (even months). The tickets sell out fast and it is worth the visit.
Some of the original paint can be seen in this ceiling portion in the Alhambra
Our day was long an exhausting and we had to drive back, thankfully we made it in one piece (the drive is about 4 hours each way). If you have the time, visit Granada, you will leave happy.
For this trip we had many fun, shopping, historical, cultural, and culinary adventures. We flew back home to NYC.
Adios till my next post!
Italy and Spain: Chapter 1 Venice
Italy and Spain: Chapter 2 Florence
Italy and Spain: Chapter 3 Rome
Italy and Spain: Chapter 4 Barcelona
Italy and Spain: Chapter 5 Madrid