Bike Alhambra

Bike Andalusia at the Alhambra Granada, Spain / May 4-6, 2009

Extend your holiday in Spain by coming along on our pre-trip excursion to Granada!

This modern-day provincial capital was the last Moorish kingdom to fall to the Castilian monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella in 1491 and retains an unmistakable Arab flavor. It is home to a number of architectural wonders, including the fabulous Alhambra (literally “the red fortress”), residence of the Moorish princes and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Our accommodation for the two-night stay will be the Alhambra Palace Hotel, famous for its terrace with views of the city and the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. It is situated adjacent to the Torres Bermejas in the perimeter of the Alhambra itself, just a 5-minute walk from the entrance.

The first day is ours to enjoy wandering on our own after arrival. We’ll get together in the evening for a delicious Andalusian dinner before the serious touring begins the next morning.

The second day we’ll explore Granada’s rich heritage. Our guide will lead us through the labyrinthine streets of the Albaicín where whitewashed houses known as cármenes conceal secluded inner gardens. This was formerly the old Moorish quarter. The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicín, has a fantastic view of the Alhambra on the other side of the city.

We’ll also discover the Sacromonte. This area is known for its caves inhabited for centuries by the Gitano (gypsies) whose descendants still live and work there today. Many of the caves have been turned into restaurants and flamenco bars where the world-famous dance is performed in its original setting.

Saving the best for last, we’ll return to the Alhambra for a late-afternoon tour of its splendid halls, courtyards and fountains decorated with beautiful mosaics and gold.

Dinner will be on our own the second night—maybe you’ll decide to go back to a flamenco bar. The next day, rested and raring to go, we’ll be picked up at our hotel to join the other members arriving for the start of the main cycling trip.