Granada is a city in southern Spain that lies along the valley of the Genil river at the very foot of the The Baetic System. With its population of 239,000, Granada is the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia as well as its main industrial, cultural and trade centre. It is considered one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain, famous for its marvellous location and its numerous historic sites, among which stands out the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex. The Alhambra's Islamic palace was built in the 13th century for the court of the last Muslim Emirs of the Nasrid Dynasty in Spain and subsequently reconstructed in the 14th century. This magnificent masterpiece of Islamic architecture in Spain is impressive due to its outstandingly opulent interior design. The Palace of Charles V, located inside the Nasrid fortification of the Alhambra, is believed to be the most precious renaissance work of art outside Italy. Moreover, Granada is famous for its numerous historic churches, palaces and marvellous landscapes that provide visitors with stunning views. Going down south from Granada we arrive at the seaside of the legendary Costa del Sol, located 70 kilometres away from the city.
Lublin and Granada have declared their willingness to establish mutual cooperation based on the preliminary letter of intent. This cooperation is supposed to embrace a wide range of issues, such as:
- exchange of information and practical experiences in the area of urban infrastructure management, current cultural policy and heritage preservation,
- trainings and internships for students and lecturers as well as supporting their participation in European educational projects,
- facilitation of international students, cultural, sports and artistic exchange carried out by the local agencies,
- promotion of bilateral business and trade relations.
Main attractions/sights:
- the Alhambra – a Nasrid “palace city” declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984;
- the Generalife – a garden area attached to the Alhambra which became a place of recreation and rest for the Granadan Muslim kings when they wanted to flee the tedium
- of the official life in the Palace. The Generalife was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984;
- Catedral de Granada – the seat of the Archdiocese of Granada;
- Capilla Real de Granada - a mausoleum housing the remains of the Catholic Monarchs: Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II;
- the Albayzín – a district of present day Granada that retains the narrow winding streets
- of its Medieval Moorish past. It was declared a world heritage site in 1984;
- Granada Charterhouse - a Carthusian monastery in Granada. It is one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque architecture.
Typical dishes:
- Trevélez ham;
- habas con jamón – fava beans with serrano ham;
- olla de San Antón – a typical soup from Granada region with broad-bens and white beans;
- tortilla of Sacromonte.
National sports:
- football;
- basketball.
Famous citizens:
- Federico García Lorca – a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director;
- Mariana Pineda – a Spanish liberalist heroine;
- José Callejón – a football player.
Other:
Granada was a Muslim Kingdom for 800 years, which is the longest Muslim rule in Spain. The city was the last stronghold of Muslim Spain which fell to the Catholics in 1492; the legend of the Hall of the Abencerrages – the Hall's name derives from a tragic legend in which 36 members of the noble Abencerrage family were invited for a banquet at the Alhambra palace by the Sultan Abu Al-Hassan. The Sultan wanted revenge after finding out that Hamet, the chief member of the Abencerrage family, was courting Zoraya – his own favourite concubine. During the banquet, he had his guards come into the intricately carved hall and cut the throats of every member of the family. Afterwards, the victims’ heads were thrown into the fountains. Legend holds that the stain visible at the bottom of the fountains today is the blood left behind as a permanent reminder of the horrible massacre.
