Many people say that if you see only one city in Spain it should be Granada. As Federico García Lorca, the Granadino poet once said, “What effort it takes for the light to leave Granada! It weaves between the cypresses or conceals itself under water.”

The city of Granada captivates visitors with both its deep rooted history and mix of Moorish and Catholic monuments. A visit to the city would not be complete without spending a day at the magnificent Alhambra Palace and Gardens of Generalife. Sitting proudly on a hilltop, adorned with the most intricate, arabesque Islamic calligraphy seen throughout the entire Islamic world, the palace is often described in such terms as enthralling, ethereal and enchanting, to name but a few. The gardens are a veritable work of art, and every year, at the end of June/beginning of July, the grounds of the Alhambra play host to the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance. During the festival a variety of concerts and other performances can also be seen in civic centres, chapels, churches, cafés and clubs throughout the city.

The Alhambra is not Granada's only Moorish treasure; the rest of the city is truly an Aladdin's cave of delights waiting to be discovered by visitors. From the delightful winding streets of the Albaicín, the Islamic Quarter and old Arab silk market nestled beneath the Alhambra, to the imposing cathedral, the Capilla Real, built by Ferdinand V and Isabella I, and where their bodies are interred, there is much to experience here.

For those interested in experiencing the age old Spanish tradition of a bullfight, these are held in Granada from March through to November at the Plaza de Toros. The tourist office will have details of all upcoming ‘corridas’, as they are commonly known.

A morning relaxing in one of the hammams (Arabic baths) is an excellent way to start your tour through the deeply historic City of Granada, followed by an afternoon of tracing city's heritage through its intricate architecture, perhaps taking time out to visit Sacromonte Abbey, the gypsy quarter and home to Spain's true flamenco. Why not end the day relaxing at one of the many lively Spanish bars, taking refreshments and tapas? As the sun slowly sets over the Alhambra, the Mirador de San Nicolás is the place to be. Gazing out across the City of Granada, bathed in the last of the sun's rays, you will a contentment that is hard to match elsewhere.

Granada's extensive cultural calendar includes a whole range of festivals and traditions; two of the most exciting times to visit the city are at Easter, known as Semana Santa, and in early June, for Corpus Christi, when processions are abundant, music is widely available and the city is in fiesta.