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Spain - Costa Tropical - Granada |
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Granada lies in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains about 70km from the coast. Daily flights from the UK now fly to Granada
airport which is less than 20km from the city. The city can also be easily reached
from coastal areas such as
Malaga and Almeria.
Modern Granada has all the attractions of a vibrant, cosmopolitan City, whilst retaining
its Moorish charm. The city has a population of 240,000 of which 80,000 are students,
adding to the cosmopolitan atmosphere.
A city of great history and culture, places to explore include the beautiful
cathederal,
the outstanding Alhambra palace and the fascinating Albaicin Arabic quarter. A unique
attraction in Granada is its flamenco shows, which take place in gipsy caves in the
Sacramonte district.
The Granada province has an excellent climate, with warm sunny days throughout most
of the spring and autumn. In the summer temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees.
The Alhambra
Often described as the most exciting and romantic of all European monuments, the Alhambra palace
is a large complex constructed over many centuries by several rulers. It consists of gardens,
fortifications and exquisite palaces. The Alhambra consists of 3 parts: The Royal Palace,
gardens of Generalife and the fortress of Alcazaba. The inspiration behind several of the
buildings of Alhambra is nothing
less than an attempt to create a Paradise on earth. The
romantic design is made
up of a mixture of slender columnar arcades, fountains, and light-reflecting
water basins. The Alhambra is open daily all year round and attracts over two million annual visitors.
It is key to a thriving tourism industry and is Spain's most visited monument.
The Albaicín
The Albaicín is the old Arabic quarter located on the hill opposite the Alhambra.
A labyrinth of cobble stoned streets with white washed houses, there are many squares with terazas
and places to relax and enjoy a bite to eat. The Albaicín is described as an oil painter's
paradise and almost at every turn of the head there is an attractive view, showing glimpses of the
Alhambra.
Sierra Nevada
For winter visitors the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains offer a world-class facility with
skiing at an altitude of over 10,000 feet and brilliant sunshine most of the winter. With good weather
the views are spectacular and at points skiers can see across the Mediterranean to the Atlas Mountains
of Morocco.
When it snows, it comes down light and dry due to the low humidity in Southern Spain. When it doesn't
snow, Sierra Nevada has one of Europe's most advanced snowmaking systems.
With a total of 39 runs over 61 kilometers, plus 6 sensational off-course trails,
there are a wide
choice of activities on offer. There are snow areas for all types of skiers, from beginners to experts.
A unique way to enjoy the snow in the resort is
to take a dog sled ride. One of the Sierra
Nevada´s most exciting features is night skiing. Skiing and lift schedules are established
according to the time of sunset, where an extra two hours of skiing is available along a freshly
groomed course.
Sierra Nevada is also Spain´s pioneer resort in snowboarding, with specialised snowboarding
shops and schools in the resort.
Other winter sports available include cross-country skiing, artistic skiing (ballet, jumps, moguls),
telemark skiing, trekking and adventure skiing.
One of the resorts most important features is the four-storey underground parking complex with a
capacity of 2,880 vehicles.
The resort town Pradollano is at an altitude of 2,100 meters. It is a modern town with a hint of
traditional charm. Pradollano offers a variety of services including quality hotels, ski lodges,
apartments for sale and rental, restaurants featuring
local Andalusian and international cuisine,
tearooms, sundecks, night clubs, pubs and bars, discotheques etc. There is also a new medical
centre, child day-care centre, ATM´s, supermarkets, boutiques, gift shops, magazine and
newspaper kiosks, ski rental, photo-developing services, hairdressers, car rental, taxi service,
pharmacy, church services, available at the resort. |
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