Granada travel information and video

Holiday information, facts, photos and video about Granada

Granada Province

The province of Granada is situated in southern Spain, in the eastern region of the autonomous community of Andalusia. The province is widely recognised for its capital, Granada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace; secondly for home to the Sierra Nevada Natural Park and mountainous range, with the snow capped peaks of Mulhacen and Veleta. In Granada you can be skiing in the morning and sunbathing on the Costa
Tropical in the afternoon.

Natural Granada
The splendid contrast between Granada’s green and lush ‘vega’ (plains), the stunningly natural environment of the Alpujarras, and the dazzling mountain range of the Sierra Nevada, have not yet
failed to impress visitors to the region.

The interior beauty of the region is combined with 60 kilometres of coastline, known as the Costa Tropical, which also falls into the Granada province, and which makes the natural beauty of Granada complete.


Granada City
The city of Granada is characterised by architectural splendour, a rich cultural heritage and its stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada. The most famous landmark in Granada is the 14th century Alhambra Palace, one of the most revered examples of Islamic architecture in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yet Granada has heaps more to offer visitors; the whole city has a unique feel, with its wealth of ancient buildings and neighbourhoods, combined with a wonderful, bohemian and upbeat atmosphere, Granada enchants all who come to visit.  


Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada is the second highest mountain range in Europe, situated in the Sierra Nevada National Park, the region is typified by its rugged wilderness, snow capped mountains, the beautiful Las Alpujarras region, whose ancient villages sit within the foothills of the mountains.

This Sierra Nevada (mountain range) is part of the beautiful heritage of Granada, and is covered with snow all year round. The peaks of the Sierra Nevada rise over 3,000 metres high, terminating at the Mulhacen peak which has an altitude of 3,481 metres.

The Sierra Nevada is a popular ski resort and the alpine pursuits capital of southern Spain. There are also superb climbing, hiking and mountaineering conditions.


Costa Tropical
The Costa Tropical has a particularly picturesque coastline, and is relatively unspoilt. Being not so well known as its neighbour, the Costa del Sol. The region enjoys a sub-tropical climate, hence the name; the warm winters and hot summers make it an ideal year-round destination.

The Costa Tropical attracts Spanish holiday-makers and those seeking a more traditional flavour; the area is dotted with picturesque fishing
towns and white mountain villages. Some of the most popular resorts of the Costa Tropical are Almunecar, La Herradura, Salobrena and Castell del Ferro.

Las Alpujarras
The foothills of the Sierra Nevada are known as ‘Las Alpujarras’; it’s a region of outstanding natural beauty and ancient Berber-style villages and provides the perfect scenery and landscape for hiking and rambling holidays. The region combines scenes of sheltered valleys, deep
gorges and green lush foothills. The region has a mini-ecology system of Las Alpujarras is spectacular. The farmlands that sit below the Sierra Nevada are constantly watered by the melting snow from the mountains.

Towns and Villages of the Granada Province
Orgiva is the capital of Las Alpujarras, situated on the Costa Tropical. It’s a wonderfully, cosmopolitan town, with many nationalities living together, in quite a bohemian atmosphere. Situated in the valley of the Guadalfeo River, Orgiva sits at 450 metres and has a milder climate than many other places in Las Alpujarras. The surrounding landscape is blanketed with olive, lemon and orange groves.

The charming village of Bubion is situated in the beautiful natural region of Las Alpujarras, in the
Poqueira Gorge. The village sits on the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and enjoys magnificent views to the surrounding snow capped mountain range and the rest of Las Alpujarras.

The village of Capileira is located on the limit of the eternal snow of Sierra Nevada. The dramatic views down the valley and up the mountain backdrop of Sierra Nevada are quite spectacular.

Acequias is a small white washed village which sits high on the banks of the Rio Torrente, a deep gorge carved out by the river flowing down from the Sierra Nevada mountains National Park, which is also paints backdrops to this pretty village. Acequias is ideally situated for exploring the wonderful natural region of Las Alpajurras.

The busy seaside town of Motril is the largest town on the Costa Tropical with a thriving economy, based on agriculture, fishing and its
leisure port. It nestles at the foothills of the Sierra Lujar Mountains, halfway between Malaga and Almeria, the town is an ideal location for those
wishing to explore the treasures of the coastal and inland regions of the Andalusia.

Almunecar, together with its neighbour La Herradura form the tourist capital of the Costa Tropical. The town sits upon a hill at the mouth of two rivers, meandering down to the coast, in the province of Granada in Andalusia. From here you can almost reach out and touch Africa and its special climate.

Gastronomy
Granada’s cuisine is influenced by it situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean. The region combines fresh seafood specialities from the coastline of the Costa Tropical, with rich, hearty stews and meat dishes from the mountain region. The importance of the region during the Moorish occupation is also evident in Granada’s cuisine, with rich spices and sweet hints, such as honey, incorporated into local dishes.

Climate
The climate of the province of Granada is diverse, with the Costa Tropical region and its sub-tropical, all year round warm climate, and the inland and Sierra Nevada region, which has all
year round snow capped mountains, warm summers, but decidedly chilly winters.