A wonderful historic city in
Spain, at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the
Sierra Nevada. The city is divided by the
Darro, which flows underground in the city centre. Granada is the city of the
Alhambra, a beautiful
Moorish palace.
History: Already in the 5th century BC, people were living in this area, because of its fertile soils. In Roman times, the area was known as Iliberis. The actual city was founded by the Visigoths, and the city was later taken over by the Moors (711 AD) who erected a fortress. In the early days of the Arab regime, the area was ruled by a viceroy that was dependent upon the main city of Córdoba. The fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031) led to the establishment of small Muslim states, including the Kingdom of Granada. The kingdom was ruled by two Berber Dynasties (Almoravides and Almohades), until the first Nasrid King, Mohammed I came to power in 1236. King Mohammed I undertook the construction of the Alhambra in 1238. Granada was taken over by Catholic kings in 1492, and this marked the end if the Nasrid Dynasty. Under Catholic reign, the city was further expanded with religious buildings, monuments and palaces.