February 26th, 2020
This weekend, some places in the United States had a break due to the depressing weather and eternal winter. This benefitted me because my family was able to come visit. Although I was still in university, they decided to take a quick visit to the south of Spain with me the days that I had off. It was a four-day trip, but I saw so many places that it felt a lot longer. I hope that these pictures and this article helps you be transported to the South of Spain along with me!
Firstly, I visited Sevilla. Apart from eating some amazing food and doing some shopping, I visited some of the most famous landmarks including The Cathedral of Seville, the Giralda, and the Alcazar.
The Cathedral of Seville is a Catholic parish. It contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus. There is also the statue of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua that Elcano and 17 other men on the ship that traveled around the whole world prayed to when they reached the end to thank Mary for their protection. It is very intricate with incredible details around the entire inside and outside of the Cathedral.
The Giralda is a tower connected to the Cathedral. It is a 35 ramp and twelve stair climb to the top. Once you get to the top you can see the entire city of Sevilla. All the red tiles rooftops are visible and the city’s beauty can be seen from a bird’s-eye view.
The Alcazar is a castle where previous royals lived. It features many rooms, one with a very detailed and beautiful dome that attracts tourists, and is honestly very worth it. The rest of the Alcazar consists of gardens with Koi fish, fountains and a variety of different plants. It is a very peaceful walk that allows you to see different uses in history when the temperature was too hot and air conditioning was not available, or the days too boring without access to Netflix..
It allows to see the history of religion as well. There is a lot of Muslim inspiration but also the re-introduction of the Christian religion to Sevilla. It comes together in the artwork and architecture of the Alcazar.
After exploring these places in Sevilla and walking (and riding electric scooters) around the city we traveled to Granada for a day.
The thing that enjoyed the most about Granada was the mix of cultures. It was very interesting to see the mix of Spanish and Arabian culture. Also there was a mix of many different religions. I went to Plaza de San Nicolas. From there you can see La Alhambra. Also, when we went there were men singing and dancing flamenco and sharing the culture. Afterwards, I walked through the Arabian markets and ate Moroccan food. I loved learning about and experiencing the different cultures. The Arab culture is seen through the effect that is had on the architecture of structures throughout some of the neighborhoods in Granada.
After, I visited the Alhambra. Starting with beautiful, colorful gardens with fountains and the outlook of Granada. Then I walked through all the different homes of the people who inhabited the Alhambra switching from Muslim to Catholic religions throughout. The details and style of architecture that changed due to religion was amazing. The luxury of the leaders before Christianity was introduced is incredible. The three generations have homes going from least rich to most rich all being very eloquent. The Catholic kings were much more simplistic and less luxurious. The rulers changed very drastically during history in Granada.
This trip allowed me to see more of Spanish history in the south and I found it extremely interesting. And honestly, it’s definitely worth the visit if you ever have the chance. Also, it allowed me to meet another part of the world. I hope these pictures and summaries allowed you to travel to the South of Spain along with me.
Until next time,
Sincerely,
The Eternal Traveler