Page 37 - Cork & Tee Sample Program Flipbook, 2018

Day 6: Granada, Last Stronghold of the Moors. This morning, meet Manuel, our preferred
Granada guide, for a private, half-day tour spotlighting the Alhambra, the magnificent palace
fortress of the Moors (of the Nasrid rulers, in particular) who occupied Granada for centuries.
The Zirid Monarchs first established their court on this strategic position in the 11th century and,
under the occupation of the Moors, the
city grew to be one of the wealthiest in all
of Europe. It was not until the 13th
century that a royal residence was
established here with the arrival of the
first monarch of the Nasrid dynasty,
Mohammed I (1238-1273). The Alhambra
became a palace, citadel and fortress, and
was the residence of the Nasrid sultans
and their senior officials, including
servants of the court and elite soldiers (13th-14th centuries). In 1527 Charles V, Holy Roman
Emperor, demolished part of the architectural complex to build the palace which bears his name.
Although the Catholic Monarchs had already altered some rooms of the Alhambra, Charles V
wanted to construct a permanent residence befitting an emperor. As a result, European details
mingle with what is one of the greatest examples of Moorish architecture anywhere.

Following your visit to the Alhambra and the gardens of the Generalife, walk down the hill with
Manuel to continue your touring with a visit to
the exceptional Gothic cathedral of Granada.
Queen Isabella commissioned the construction of
the cathedral following the Reconquest and the
ouster of the Nasrid (Moorish) rulers. While the
original plan was to construct a Gothic cathedral,
what you will experience is a masterwork of
Spanish Renaissance architecture. The most
noteworthy part of the cathedral is the Capilla
Real (Royal Chapel), which is the burial place of
the Catholic Kings including Ferdinand and Isabella. The royal couple commissioned the
construction of the chapel in 1504 as they wished not to be buried in their native Castile or
Aragon, but here, in the capital of Moorish Spain, where they achieved their greatest victory,
toppling the Moorish kingdom and uniting Spain under Catholic rule.

Plan on a half-day tour today followed by the afternoon at leisure during which we suggest you
explore the Albayzín located adjacent to your accommodations. Featuring cobbled streets,
narrow alleyways and original Moorish houses, the quarter was co-designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site with the Alhambra in 1984. Enjoy the wonderful views of the Alhambra,

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