A Step Back in Time: Granada

We took a short bus ride from Malaga to Granada in the mountains of Andalucia. Having been controlled by the Moors until the 1400's, the influence of Arabic architecture, cooking, and culture are still alive and well in the town.  It's a surreal experience to see beautiful Middle Eastern-style architecture with Spanish spoken all around you.

The main attraction in Granada is the Alhambra - I will share a separate post with photos from the Alhambra because it's such an overwhelmingly stunning place.  That said, the city of Granada is special beyond the Alhambra.  We loved the monastery filled with oranges, the Moorish tea room serving Moroccan tea, and the intriguing maze of alleys.  If you get a chance, go to Granada and spend your time in the city to visit some of the spots beyond the Alhambra too!

The beautiful town of Granada set in the mountains of Andalucia:

The beautiful Cathedral from above.  Many of the Spanish kings are buried in this cathedral:

The streets are lined with beautiful decorative patterns...the time and care in incredible

We loved poking around the monastery and smelling the sweet orange tree smells:

One of the many public plazas around the city:

Checking out the architecture along the river

Enjoying the hill top views of the magnificent Alhambra: