Granada

History

Granada has been occupied from 5500BC and has been under the rule of Roman, Visigothic and Muslim rulers. In 1238 Granada was officially called the Emirate of Granada under the rule of the Nasrids who were the longest lasting Muslim dynasty. 

A historical site that was made by the Nasrids was the Alhambra which was strategically placed so that it looks across the whole city which is a must see site. The rule of Granada changed in 1492 on January 2 when the last Muslim leader for the region, Emir Muhammad XII, surrendered Granada to Ferdinand II and Isabella I who were known as Los Reyes Catolicos (the catholic monarchs). 

 Both of their bodies are kept in the Royal Chapel in Granada along with their daughter, her husband and their oldest grandson. Part of the surrender treaty was that all the Muslim inhabitants of the city could stay and continue their culture and faith rituals. 

By 1499 the ruler had grown tired of the Muslim inhabitants and wanted them to migrate. The first archbishop of Granada, Ferando de Talavera forced non-Christians to get baptised and convert to Christianity. This caused a revolt by the Muslims in the Alpujarras region in the southwest of the city. The response to this revolt in 1501 was to repeal the treaty and say that all of Granada’s Muslims must convert to the Christian faith or emigrate.

The Jews in the same city were already forced to convert because of the threat of expulsion or even execution and they were called Marranos (pig in Spanish). Many Muslims moved to North Africa but the majority converted and stayed in the city. 

Over the 6th century Granada became more and more catholic and the cities mosques were either turned into churches or destroyed. The new buildings like the cathedrals changed the urban landscape with their unique architecture. From the Alhambra this all can be seen with it’s amazing views of the city.

Parque de las Ciencias

El parque sólo es quince minutos a caminar del centro. Hay exposiciónes del cuerpo, mecánica, física, química y geología. El parque es lleno de flores, pájaros, mariposas y laberintos. El pabellón es para filósofos, ingenieros y científicos de Al-Andalus. Hay un restaurante y una tienda de regalos a la salida. Es excelente para los niños por la tecnología y la diversion educaciónal. El planetarion es asombros con más de ciento diez proyectores y muestra siete mil estrellas. Los espacios naturales y pabellónes son hermosos, sobre el medio ambiente y protección de ellos.