The Alhambra of Granada
After the All Saints Bridge, with the Halloween costumes stored in the closet, and halfway to the longed-for Christmas, November is a great month to make a brief getaway. Below we propose several nearby destinations with a lot of charm to make a getaway that will allow you to gather strength for the Christmas that is coming.
Grenada
The city is a unique place for tourism. It can boast of incredible natural attractions such as the beaches of Albuñol or Almuñécar as well as the fabulous ski slopes of Sierra Nevada. In addition, thanks to its great cultural wealth, the city is full of artistic, architectural and historical contrasts that intermingle in its streets full of tourists throughout the year.
Perhaps the Alhambra and the Sierra de Granada are its main tourist attractions, but by no means the only ones. To contemplate the most beautiful views of the palace, you must go to the famous Paseo de los Tristes, located next to the Darro River.
There are also other very interesting places to visit in Granada that are not related to the Alhambra such as the Cathedral of Granada, which is the first Renaissance in Spain and the second largest in the country, which has a peculiar round High Altar unprecedented in the history of architecture.
Also the Arab baths of El Bañuelo, created for the relaxation of the inhabitants of Muslim Granada, are dated in the XNUMXth century, being one of the oldest of this genre that is preserved in Spain. It is also the oldest civil building in the city.
Pompeii
The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 wiped out three Roman cities in full swing and massacred most of their inhabitants. It is ironic that such a tragedy has made possible the good conservation of Pompeii and allowed us to know precisely what life was like for its inhabitants.
The entrance to this archaeological site costs approximately 11 euros, although if in your visit you want to include the other neighboring sites (Herculaneum, Stabia, Oplontis and Bosco Reale) there is a highly recommended global ticket that costs 20 euros.
The visit to Pompeii can last a whole day as there is so much to see. It is convenient to read a little about the history of Pompeii and the different sites open to the public to know which ones we are most interested in visiting. We especially recommend: the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the Basilica or the Stabian Baths.
Fez
Fez, the imperial city of Morocco, is also the religious and cultural capital of the Alhau country since the Qarawiyn, a mosque and a Koranic university, was founded in the XNUMXth century.
Palaces, temples, madrasas and walls testify to the glorious past of Fez, a town where XNUMX million people already live. Declared a World Heritage Site, the Fez medina is preserved intact thanks to General Lyautey, who forbade building inside.
Fez is actually three cities in one: Fez el Bali (the old city founded in 789 by Idrís I) Fez el Jedid (built in the XNUMXth century by the Merinids) and the New City (built by the French with Hassan II avenue as the main axis). Each of them reflects an important stage in its history.
Located 200 kilometers east of Rabat, Fez is an ideal place to get lost and discover the authentic Morocco. Perhaps somewhat overshadowed by the great cities of the country such as Marrakech, Casablanca or Rabat, the truth is that Fez better preserves its traditions and lifestyles, something that is breathed in its streets.
Lanzarote
Lanzarote can be considered an island that has it all. It brings together spectacular beaches, a mild climate, beautiful towns, a national park and a very unique volcanic rock landscape that has served to be included in the Unesco network of Geoparks. As if that were not enough, in 1993 it was declared a world biosphere reserve. A good excuse to get away and get to know it.
What places cannot you miss on your visit to Lanzarote?
- Timanfaya National Park: In the municipality of Yaiza is the Timanfaya National Park, the third most visited in Spain. The entrance to the place costs 9 euros and includes a bus itinerary of almost an hour with a locution that explains the volcanic landscapes and the eruptions that devastated the island between 1730 and 1736. Those actions changed a territory known for its crops and left a landscape lunar.
- The Underwater Museum: It is the first of its kind in Europe. It is located on the southwest coast of the island, in an area near Las Coloradas in Yaiza, which meets the best conditions for installation as it is sheltered from the large sea currents that affect the north coast of Lanzarote. In addition, 2% of the income generated by this underwater museum will be used to research and disseminate the richness of the species and the seabed of the island.
- Famara: It is the most spectacular and extensive beach in the municipality of Teguise. The trade winds have formed dunes and among them bathers rest in the sun. It has the advantage that it is never overcrowded and you can practice water sports such as surfing, bodyboarding, kitesurfing or windsurfing.