Granada

Granada, city of ancient Muslim kings
and modern, sophisticated academics

About 2,200 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Granada, full of romance and folklore, sprawls over two main hills, the Alhambra and the Albaicín, and is crossed by two rivers, the Genil and the Darro.

This former stronghold of Moorish Spain came to prominence in the 1200s at the peak of Muslim power. Even after Seville and Córdoba had fallen to the Catholic monarchs, Granada stood as Spain’s last surviving Islamic capital. It's where the sultans took their last stand against the Catholic invaders. The Alhambra, the hilltop fortress palace of the Nasrid kings, is one of the world's most fabled landmarks. This monumental edifice is arguably Spain's greatest attraction, allowing a fascinating peek at the architectural glory that existed during the Middle Ages.

Under subsequent Catholic monarchs, Granada prospered until the 1500s when it fell into a decline that lasted many years. But today, Granada is back—it’s got an economy fueled not only by the travel industry (and others), and the University of Granada is one of Spain’s finest, so there’s a smart, young, vibrant population.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.