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What You Need To Know about Granada

Granada is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Beiro, the Darro, the Genil and the Monachil. It sits at an average elevation of 738 m (2,421 ft) above sea level, yet is only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast, the Costa Tropical. Nearby is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, where the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 were held. In the 2005 national census, the population of the city of Granada proper was 236,982, and the population of the entire urban area was estimated to be 472,638, ranking as the 13th-largest urban area of Spain. About 3.3{aadbb7b1f0a5a3fb957897604c68f29b145c7acfea618da5957c4dd281216882} of the population did not hold Spanish citizenship, the largest number of these people (31{aadbb7b1f0a5a3fb957897604c68f29b145c7acfea618da5957c4dd281216882}; or 1{aadbb7b1f0a5a3fb957897604c68f29b145c7acfea618da5957c4dd281216882} of the total population) coming from South America. Its nearest airport is Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport. The Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, is in Granada. It is the most renowned building of the Andalusian Islamic historical legacy with its many cultural attractions that make Granada a popular destination among the touristic cities of Spain. The Almohad influence on architecture is also preserved in the Granada neighborhood called the Albaicín with its fine examples of Moorish and Morisco construction. Granada is also well-known within Spain for the University of Granada which has about 80,000 students spread over five different campuses in the city. The pomegranate (in Spanish, granada) is the heraldic device of Granada.

 

Estimate Population: 107,850

Area: 88.02 km²

Currency

Euro is the Official Currency

 

Economy

The coast of Granada province is known as the Costa Tropical. Although it is not as popular with foreign visitors as the Costa del Sol further west, it does attract large numbers of Spanish holiday-makers. The main resorts are Almuñecar, Salobreña and La Herradura. The city of Granada brings in tourists from all over the world thanks to its Moorish architecture and famous Alhambra palace. In the winter the mountains of the Sierra Nevada play host to Europe's most southerly ski resort. Hiking and eco-tourism also attract a number of visitors to areas such as the Alpujarras and Lecrin Valley.

Language

Official language is Spanish.

 

Legacy

The fall of Granada has a significant place among the important events that mark the latter half of the Spanish 15th century. It completed the so-called Reconquista (or Christian conquest) of the 800-year-long Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Spain, now without any major internal territorial conflict, embarked on a great phase of exploration and colonization around the globe. In the same year the sailing expedition of Christopher Columbus resulted in what is usually claimed to be the first European sighting of the New World, although Leif Ericson is often regarded as the first European to land in the New World, 500 years before Christopher Columbus. The resources of the Americas enriched the crown and the country, allowing Isabella I and Ferrando II to consolidate their rule as Catholic Monarchs of the united kingdoms. Subsequent conquests, and the Spanish colonization of the Americas by the maritime expeditions they commissioned, created the vast Spanish Empire: for a time the largest in the world.

Transport

Construction of a light rail network, the Granada metro, began in 2007. It will cross Granada and cover the towns of Albolote, Maracena and Armilla, The metro was scheduled to open in 2016. Other transportation options in the city of Granada are trains, taxis or buses.

Bus

The main company operating bus transport in Granada is Transportes Rober. There is also bus transportation to and from the airport with the company Alsa.

Train

Granada has rail connections with many cities in Spain. There are several types of train service to and from Granada.

  • Short distance trains
  • Medium distance trains
  • Long distance trains
  • AVE (high speed long distance). The closest AVE connection is in Antequera.

Taxi

Granada has a wide network of taxis to help the traveller reach their destinations. Official Granada taxis are white with a green stripe.

Airport

The nearest airport is Federico García Lorca Airport, about 15 km (9 mi) west of Granada.

Weather

Due to its distance from the Atlantic Ocean, Granada has a borderline cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk). The city lies on the eastern limit of the Mediterranean climate zone of southwestern Spain; thus its climate borders the hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa), receiving enough rainfall as well as having a precipitation regime typical of the Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with daily temperatures averaging 34 °C (93 °F) in the hottest month (July); however, temperatures reaching over 40 °C (104 °F) are not uncommon in the summer months. Winters are cool and wet, and most of the rainfall is concentrated from November through to January. The coldest month is January with daytime temperatures hovering at 13 °C (55 °F) and dropping to around 1 °C (34 °F) during the night. Frost is quite common as temperatures usually reach below-freezing in the early morning. Spring and autumn are unpredictable, with temperatures ranging from mild to warm.