How to visit the Alhambra in Granada
13 agosto, 2014
The Alhambra in Granada is a must-visit place
when travelling to this wonderful city in Andalusia. Millions of people come
every year from all over the world just to see firsthand this remains from the
Arabian period, to feel the presence of History that remains within its walls
and to get lost throughout every nook and cranny of the gardens, and finally it
all surpasses their expectations.
The ensemble of the Alhambra monument is the
clearest current testimony of the Spain’s social situation during the Middle
Age. While people in Europe were being victims of a constant conflict between
ethnic groups and religions, there were three different cultures in Spain —Jewish, Christian and Arabic— which lived
together and left their marks on the cities and their cultures. So that in the
complex of the Alhambra we can find the areas and buildings from both the
Arabic period —as the Generalife’s gardens, the Nasrid Palaces or the Alcazaba
(the citadel)— and the period after the Spanish Christian Reconquest—as the
Palace of Charles V or St. María’s Church. Neither the Arabic kings nor the
Christians who followed them changed anything from what was already built of
the Alhambra, but every time they added more areas and structures on a
conservational work which is unique in the world. And this work provided the
Alhambra with the designation as belonging to the Unesco’s list of world cultural
heritages.
The whole ensemble of the Alhambra is a fortress, a citadel and a palace
at the same time, but most of all it is a treasure for the city of Granada. A
hidden treasure for many tourists for who we will tell in detail some aspects
that we have to consider while planning our trip.
Information to visit the Alhambra in Granada
Situation of the Alhambra in Granada: how to get to the Alhambra?
As we have just explained, the Alhambra served
as a fortress during many centuries for the kingdoms in the province of Granada,
and this is why it was built on this strategic place: on the top of the
Sabika’s hill. The city of Granada as we know it nowadays set up on the slopes
of this hill, so that the ensemble of the Alhambra and the Generalife’s gardens
crown the whole town, about 1,5km away from the downtown.
So we won’t stumble upon the Alhambra’s walls
around the corner of one of the innumerable little streets in the historic
centre, but it is possible to get to the Alhambra by walking, as well as on
public or private transport instead.
·
By
walking.
There are three main routes which
start from different places on the cityt: the route cuesta de los Chinos
starting from Paseo de los Tristes, the route cuesta Gomérez starting from
Plaza Nueva, and the route of the Realejo starting from the Plaza del Realejo.
The slope on every path becomes enjoyable thanks to the beautiful landscape
during this walk which takes above half an hour.
·
On
private vehicle.
The access to the Alhambra’s complex
is restricted and there is a parking area for vehicles.
·
By
bus.
There are two buses which connect
some different points in the city with the Alhambra: C3 and C4.
·
Touristic
train.
This service offers a touristic city tour for
about 1h30 which links some popular places in the city, as the Albaicín’s
neighborhood, with the Alhambra. The price of the tickets oscillates between 6
and 8 Euros.
The ensemble of the Alhambra and Generalife gardens: what to see?
The Alhambra complex is sectioned on different
areas you can go all over as you like. You can enter from the Gate of Arms and
finding yourself surrounded by the Alhambra’s fortress, and then discovering its
heart structure. You will find Isma’il Palace over here, the Palace of Charles
V over there, then the tall hedges of Generalife gardens, the Palace of the
Lions and the fountain with the same name. A palace-city which seems even
larger when you get inside than the impression that you could get from a first external
sight.
You can visit the whole monument in one or more
days, independently or planning a guided tour with one of the groups which
organize this visits. Anyway, it is worth taking our time while walking within
the walls of the Alhambra.
Visit hours and price of the tickets
The Alhambra remains opened for visitors every
day of the year (excluding December de 25th and January the 1st)
and it is possible to visit it both during the day or the evening. There are
two different schedules for two periods every year:
·
From
October the 15th to March the 14th:
‒
Day
visits every day from 8:30 am to 6 pm.
‒
Evening
visits only on weekends from 8 pm to 9:30 pm.
·
From
March the 15th to October the 14th:
‒
Day
visits every day from 8:30 am to 8 pm.
‒
Evening
visits from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 pm to 11:30 pm.
Concerning the price of the tickets, it could
vary from 7 to 25 Euros depending on the program you choose and the sections
that you pretend to visit. We recommend booking the tickets in advance as the
visitor capacity is limited. You have three ways to book the tickets:
·
Online
·
By
telephone: 902 888 001 // +34 958 92 60 31.
·
At
the Alhambra’s shop in Granada. Adress: Reyes Católicos n. º 40.
The Alhambra: the perfect place for cultural activities
That wasn’t all: the Alhambra is the ideal
space to run many cultural activities as talks, workshops, exhibitions and
concerts, at the museum as well as in other sections of the complex. If you are
planning your visit to the Alhambra and you want to enjoy more than just the
building don’t hesitate to look at the program to see the eventual activities
and the opening hours of the museum on the website.
This treasure of the History and the culture is
waiting for you in Granada to make you enjoy its beauty. It invites you to feel
its atmosphere spreading over the whole city, to walk through the streets and
two discover it from its heart. And if you can do all that while staying in a
comfortable, private apartment at your disposal by Genteel Home to enjoy a
privileged view of the Alhambra, what are you waiting for to book your place?