Granada, a city of legend sheltered by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, possesses rich artistic and cultural heritage considered unique in the world.

With its Moorish heritage, Granada combines the wealth conferred by cultural fusion and the contrasts in its streets and people: this is a city both ancient and modern, busy and quiet, Christian and Moorish, traditional and cosmopolitan, Gypsy and Spanish… The city of Granada has been synonymous with poetry, water and gardens for centuries, providing an inexhaustible source of inspiration for countless artists all over the world.

The capital of Mozarabic Andalusia boasts an infinite number of charming nooks and crannies and architectural jewels such as the famous Nasrite palaces of the Alhambra, or Qalat-Al Hamra, the red fortress in its delightful natural setting. The Alhambra is one of the most beautiful and best-conserved ancient monuments in the world, a citadel rising majestically on Porgullosa Hill. Here are various different sites, such as the military area, or Alcazaba, the Nasrite palaces and the lush Generalife Gardens.

But Granada is a veritable kaleidoscope of different cultures. Other extraordinary sights here include the sumptuous Capilla Real, in Isabelline Gothic style, founded by the Catholic Monarchs as their last resting place; the extraordinary Cathedral of La Encarnación, considered the first Renaissance cathedral in Spain, with a great nave and four enormous aisles; various popular neighbourhoods full of Moorish airs and Gypsy energy, such as the Albaicín, known as the “white barrio”, populated by white-washed houses with large patios decorated by flowers and Granada pottery, standing on a hill overlooking the Alhambra Palace; the Realejo district; and the Sacromonte caves, decorated with the typical Granada pottery that forms an important part of the most traditional tourist visit to the city.

Those visiting Granada on foot can discover the city’s streets, people and markets, such as La Alcaicería, the old Moorish silk market, which still conserves the air of a souk with its narrow little streets lined with souvenir shops.

The main areas in Granada for shopping are Calderería Nueva and Calderería Vieja, pedestrian Calle Zacatín, Calle Mesones and Calle Alhóndiga and the Alcaicería souk.

Sierra Nevada boasts one of Europe’s finest ski resorts, famous because the snow is separated by just 90 minutes’ drive from the magnificent beaches of Granada’s Costa Tropical.

A superb product of Granada’s mountains is the famous Trévelez ham, cured in the snow around La Alpujarra, whilst other dishes visitors should try here are the chicken dish pollo con tomate and the typical migas alpujarreñas.

Typical fare on the coast are espetos, delicious grilled sardines, sopa fría, a cold garlic soup made using ground almonds, tortilla al Sacromonte, pollo al ajillo (chicken in garlic) and habas fritas con jamón (fried ham and beans). The most traditional desserts in Granada province include Torta Real de Motril, Pestiños de Vélez, Tocinos de Cielo de Guadix, Roscos de Loja, Piononos de Santa Fé, Churros de Churriana and dulces de almendra, Moorish in origin.

Thanks to its important cultural traditions and the legacy left by Nasrite art, Granada is a centre for many arts and crafts, including marquetry, fine work in which mother of pearl or even bones are inlaid in chairs, tables, frames, trays and coffers, amongst other things.