THE CATHEDRAL OF GRANADA // ANDALUSIA , SPAIN
The only thing I knew about Granada was the Alhambra. When we started planning our trip - I insisted, if we did nothing else - we had to go to Granada to tour the Alhambra. We arrived in Granada on Tuesday morning just after 9 a.m. Our tickets to get into the Royal Palace at the Alhambra was not until 3 p.m. - we had six hours to kill. The Granada cathedal was recommended by one of the ladies at the tourism office and we grudgingly agreed on that for our morning. Little did we know the cathedral will lasting impression - making our time in Granada one of the most rewarding of our south of spain excursion.
Having had the good fortune to see a few cathedrals in Italy and France, the cathedral of Granada still ranks amongest my top three cathedrals in the world. Located in the heart of the city, this cathedral has been around since the late 16th century and was one of the ones completed after the kingdom of Granada left the hands of muslim leaders. From the outside, it seems unassuming; we walked in with some caution because the simple outside facade is no indication of the breathtaking interior and details paying hommage to the Spanish renaissance style and baroque architecture. From the wall lined with beautiful stained glass to the high ceilings and Corthian columns. The grand altar and the massive gold organ pipes that flank the interior columns make this a must for your Granada itinerary. Just take a look
Entrance fee is about 5 euro (includes an audio guide). Entry is restricted during mass. From the Granada train station, cab to the cathedral costs about five euros.