Town+Plan+of+Granada


 * Placeta de Diego de Silloe is a place where the main Cathedral of Granada is located.
 * Calle Elvira was the main commercial street in Muslim Times.


 * __Population:__** 250,000 - 350,000 depending on the source


 * __Altitude:__** 630 meters

__**Information Centre:**__ Tel: +34 958 22 59 90 Corral de Carbon is home to the tourist board and various craft shops
 * Corral de Carbon**

The city's name may have been derived either from the Spanish granada, "pomegranate," a locally abundant fruit that appears on the city's coat of arms, or from its Moorish name, Karnattah (Gharnatah), possibly meaning "hill of strangers." Granada was the site of an Iberian settlement, Elibyrge, in the 5th century BC and of the Roman Illiberis. As the seat of the Moorish kingdom of Granada, it was the final stronghold of the Moors in Spain, falling to the Roman Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I in January 1492.
 * __History of Granada__**


 * __Food and Drink:__** In Granada, tapas are a famous Spanish pasttime. These are free "appetizers" that one gets with a drink order. It is common in Granada to go to a few tapas bars and sample the different food choices there are. Also the Albaicin is a great place to sample the different Moroccan teashops. Teterias are a favorite pasttime of young, old, Spanish, and foreign people. You can sit on comfortable cushions and sample the different flavours and fragrances of the tea.


 * __Crafts and Shopping:__** Ceramics, silver, and inlaid woodwork are some of the most famous craft products of Granada. There are different types of shopping one can enjoy in Granada. Whether they want to go to the more prestigious stores on the main streets or in the little alley streets near the Albaicin to find more authentic souvenirs, there is always something for everyone.

__Fiesta de los Reyes__ - This is the moment when the three kings of Orient bring their Christmas presents to the children, on the evening of the 5th of January. Three men dress up as the kings, one with a black face, and ride about the town in a procession, scattering sweets to the crowds of excited children. The 6th of January is the public holiday in all Spain. __Carnival__ - Celebrated before the 40 days of lent, the carnival consists of a parade and usually a dance and "Carnival Queen" contest. __Easter - Semana Santa or "Holy Week"__ - The parades leave each of the town´s churches to wind slowly around the streets, with their lifelike statues of Christ on the Cross and his mother the Virgin Mary in mourning. The processions take place during the week leading up to Easter Sunday. (23 March 2008, 12 April 2009, 4 April 2010). The best days are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday.
 * __Festivals:__**

__Alhambra__ - A famous Moorish palace along with the Alcazaba fortress that guarded the Alhambra. Also next to the Alhambra one can visit Generalife which was the summer palace of the Moorish sultans. The Generalife is an area of gardens and ponds that make an extremely beautiful view. There is also presently a stage located in Generalife where the annual International Festival of Music and Dance is performed. Albaicin - El Albaicín is the old Moorish quarter of the city which faces the Alhambra. It is a great place to go to see the beautiful views of the Alhambra, go to a teteria and sit and listen to the different music that is played. ´Calderia¨is the name of the street that is abundant with all of the teterias and much much more. __Gothic Cathedral of Santa María de la Encarnación (1523-1703)__ - The cathedral is a frequently visited tourist spot which contains the tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella. Cathedral - The Cathedral is located in the centre of the Muslim area and dates back to 1523. It has a nave and four aisles, a crossing and circular apse. Alonso Cano built the main façade with sculptures by Duque Cornejo, Risueño and Verdiguier while the only tower of the two planned ended up half finished. On the northern side, there is La Puerta del Perdón, a magnificent work of Diego de Siloé who also built La Puerta de San Jerónimo. The chancel is not only stunning, but includes skilful architectural solutions provided by Siloé. Its circular plan and great height contain semi-circular arches upon which a double series of balconies rest. __Church of San Jose__ - The Church of San José is also worth visiting close by as it is on the site of the Great Mosque of La Alcazaba and the minaret belongs to caliphal architecture, the only one preceding the Almoravid type. It is here that the 'Christ of Silence' by José de Mora is kept. All the churches in the Albaicín have Mudéjar traces in their 16th century construction
 * __Must see places in Granada:__**