Essay, Research Paper: Granada, Spain

Granada is a city in Spain that has 250-350, 000 people. Granada is a student
city with a large amount of people coming from outside to study.
In January there are lots of blue skies and it is warm when the sun is
shining but it gets cold at night. There are occasional frosts. The best time to
visit Granada is in the Spring and Autumn when the temperature is just
perfect with warm sunny days. During July and August it can be very hot.
Granada has a dry heat which is much more bearable than the humid heat
which you will find in Barcelona. There is very little rainfall although every
few years there are spells when it rains very heavily. Granada is located next
to the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalusia in the south of Spain. It is about
70km from the coast. Granada is located just at the point where the Sierra
Nevada mountains meet the fertile plain of the vega. Behind it are steep
mountains and in front there is flat agricultural land. The altitude is 630
metres.
Spain is generally very monocultural in comparison to most of the
other developed countries. For centuries Spain was host to Arabic culture and
this has left many strong imprints both genetically and culturally. The
"granadainos" don't have a particularly good reputation and they are renown
for their "mala follar" which means "bad humour". The granadinos are less
friendly and lighthearted than the average Spaniard.
Granada has the Alhambra which is considered by some to be one of
the 10 wonders of the world. The Alhambra is a massive castle constructed
over many centuries. It consists of gardens, fortifications and sumptuous
palaces. It was the home of many of the Arabic Sultans who ruled the whole
province. It receives 8000 visitors per day and is Spain's most visited
monument. Even the biggest philistine would be impressed.
Granada was ruled by many Caliphs, Arabic sultans and dynasties.
The Arabic/Moslem empire once stretched right up into the north of Spain.
The various Christian groups settled their differences, joined together and
steadily drove the Arabs out of Spain. Granada was the last stronghold and
finally succumbed to Isabel and Ferdinand in 1492. The Moslems and the
Jews were forced to leave the country or convert to Christianity. At the same
time Christopher Columbus came to Granada to ask Isabel and Ferdinand for
a grant to build ships so that he could conquer the Americas. They gave him
the money and then went Columbos.