Day 20-22

We are now in Granada! The moment I stepped foot on this city, I fell in love with it from the organic designs of the pomegranate fruits and vines to all the terracotta roofs. Did you know that Granada in Spanish translates to pomegranate? Granada has so many pomegranate trees, a flavored dessert and drinks! However, from all the cities, I believe that Granada taught me so much about the Islamic culture and architecture. Once we first arrived in Granada, it was Zoe’s birthday, so we quickly checked into our hotel and started our scavenger hunt to these three places: El Bañuelo, Horno de Or, and Palacio de Dar al-Horra. From experiencing these three different homes, one of the main aspects that stood out to me is that they all incorporated a sacred space to worship and pray within their homes.

On Day 21, we had the whole day to spend at La Alhambra, and getting there was a hike. Alhambra is defined as the “Red One,” and the location's elevation signified their government's power. First arriving, I resonated with it because I am from Alhambra, California. But La Alhambra is my second favorite because of the beauty and detail in every room, from the roof to the floor. The moments I travel around each room to get to a courtyard with reflecting pools and runnels make me wonder what they mean in Islamic architecture. It just makes me wonder how water engineering is and how all the water comes from one source and is aligned in all these palaces. I love how, in every room of the Alhambra, there are moments where light penetrates so beautifully and blends so well with the artisan craft. In every room I saw, the four primary local materials they used were plaster, wood, tile, and stone. We ended our day in the Palace of the General's Life, and it was breathtaking! From walking up rails with runnels, helping us cool off from the heat. Seeing the organized landscaping reflected and aligned is essential, creating symmetrical pathways.

On our last day, some girls and I went shopping at the Alcaiceria market and saw the colorful Spanish lamps and the clothes. Later, we went to see the Cathedral de Granada. We got to witness someone get married, and it's my third favorite building from the trip—the grander scale and how you are overwhelmed with white. There was a total of 12 columns that were in the shape of crosses with a rectangular five-nave basilica. There is a perfect balance of gold leaf that demonstrates Christina's triumph and enlightenment from the Catholic Counter-Reformation. It was intentional for the architects to emphasize the altars, choir, and main chapel so that when citizens arrive to worship, their gaze shifts to those components. The ornamentation was simple, but it was the right amount from the light and grandeur of high ceilings, amplifying the cathedral’s spatial volume to the ornate altars.

After spending 3 days here, this is my favorite city of the entire trip! The culture, people, and architecture automatically gave me a warm, welcoming, homey feeling. I don’t know how I can describe it in words, but I felt like I belonged there; Granada has a special place in my heart.