Granada

Granada is a city in the autonomous region of Andalucía, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. It is one of the great cities of Spain if not the World. 

When visiting Granada it is tempting to spend all one's time admiring the Alhambra. From afar one can admire the beauty of its red walled parapets contrasting with the snow capped Sierra Nevada whilst once inside one can absorb oneself in the sheer splendour of its fantastic palaces and its tranquil gardens. However, Granada has much more to offer the visitor. 

It is a city where both Moorish and Christian history is visible in art and architecture. 

Moorish Granada is exemplified by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Alhambra, the Generalife and the Albaicín district whilst the Capilla Real and the Cathedral represent Christian Granada.

view of an Alhambra tower and a carmen
on the Alhambra hill      photo R.Bovington

for more photographs of Granada click on the following link....

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Granada

Robert Bovington
28 February 2012

https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/about

Teruel

Teruel is the capital of the province of the same name in the autonomous community of Aragón. Despite the fact that it is one of the least known places in Spain, it really is an attractive and historic city. “Teruel existe” was the slogan used by a campaign group a few years ago. They lobbied for greater recognition and investment in the city and the province. Connections to Teruel have improved but it still remains the only provincial capital in Spain without a direct railway link to Madrid.

Teruel certainly does exist and when I visited I enjoyed exploring the old town with its medieval buildings and, in particular, the Mudéjar architecture.

Teruel - Plaza de la Catedral

more photos of Teruel on my Panoramio site:-

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Teruel

my full article about Teruel…

http://bovingtoninspain.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/teruel/

Robert Bovington
Roquetas de Mar
February 2012

Cabo de Gata

In the south of Spain, a few miles east of Almería, there is a delightful area that offers miles of unspoilt beaches with secluded coves, sand dunes and much more within a protected coastal reserve. It is the Cabo de Gata, a natural park that I think is quite splendid. It is one of my favourite areas in the province of Almería. 

It is a nature lover's delight. There are thousands of different species there including the pink flamingo and the rare Italian wall lizard. There are eagles, kestrels, puffins, cormorants, oystercatchers and storks. The extraordinary wealth of wildlife is unbelievable. There are some species that are unique to the park. This includes the dragoncillo del Cabo, which flowers all the year round. Europe's only native palm tree - the dwarf fan - is to be found here. In the sea, there are bream, grouper, prawn and squid. There are hundreds of species of seaweed, which are home to the many varieties of crustacean, mollusc and fish.

Perhaps the reason for the great variation in wildlife is due to the diverse habitats in this natural park. The 71,500 acres of the Cabo de Gata is volcanic in origin and comprises coastal dunes, steep cliffs, spectacular beaches, salt marshes, saltpans, arid steppe, dry riverbeds and a substantial marine zone. It is probably this ecological diversity that has led to the park being designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

More photos of the Cabo de Gata on my Panoramio site:-

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Cabo%20de%20Gata

Robert Bovington

https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/posts

Alhambra Granada

If there is one place you should visit in Spain, it is the Alhambra Palace in Granada.

The Alhambra reigns supreme in the city of Granada and rightly so. If it stood on a flat plain, it would still be one of the most spectacular fortresses ever built. However, it sits at the top of the highest wooded hill in the city. Not only that - this red-walled palace has the fairytale backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Well, for most of the year the mountains are snow-capped - in August, they are somewhat er... rock-capped!

If the view from afar is spectacular, the interior of the Alhambra is simply stupendous! There is so much of artistic merit to see. However, there are four main areas to explore: the Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V, the Casa Real or Royal Palace and the Generalife Gardens.

my photos of the Alhambra on Panoramio:-

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Alhambra

Robert Bovington
https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/about

Almería

I like Almería. I like its mix of old and new. It is essentially a Spanish city with a North African flavour. It is one of the most ancient cities of Andalucía. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks and Romans have all left their mark, but it was the Moors that really put Almería on the map! The Romans called it 'Portus Magnus', but later it was called al-Mariyah, meaning 'Mirror of the Sea'.

my Panoramio photos of Almería:-

http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Almer%C3%ADa

Robert Bovington
February 2012

Alcazaba Almería

The Alcazaba is an enormous fortress that dominates the city of Almería, standing as it does on a hill overlooking the town and the sea. It was built in the tenth century but over the centuries it has had further enhancements added such as a Moorish palace and, in the time of the Catholic Kings, a Christian palace.

For more phographs of the Alcazaba:
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Alcazaba%20Almer%C3%ADa

my article about the Alcazaba:
http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/2011/05/alcazaba-almeria-google-docs.html

Robert Bovington
February 2012