The Alhambra

The Alhambra is so amazing that it deserves an entry all its own. This fairy-tale castle floats above the city like a dream, but it only takes about ten minutes walk (climb!) to reach the first gate. As you walk up the hill, you immediately notice the water. Many small streams, plus the Darro River, rush down from the Alhambra, and the sound of running water is always in the air. Granada is fairly dry, and the Alhambra itself has a rocky and forbidding facade; the abundance of water is surprising. It feels extra lush and luxurious.

Directly across from the Alhambra are the neighborhoods of Albaycin and Sacromonte, where the gypsies live in caves and give flamenco dinner shows at night. In the evening, the shouts of the flamenco dancers and the music can be clearly heard in the Alhambra gardens.