By 1492, Granada had spent centuries under Moorish rule. Boabdil, the last sultan on the peninsula, clung to his city as his brethren fell left and right. With a little persuasion (and a lot of gold), Queen Isabella took control of Granada without bloodshed, and made the Moorish royal settlement of the Alhambra her own. This princely paradise of gardens and palaces was considered the most sophisticated example of Moorish architecture and design. While the Spanish royal family added a number of Renaissance palaces and chapels to the grounds, they largely preserved the original complex, and the additions were designed to complement the original Moorish palaces and gardens.

Today, the Alhambra is one of Spain’s most visited sites, and it offers visitors a theme-park experience of art history, design, and craftsmanship. But Granada is far from a one-stop destination. The city retains strong elements of this cross-cultural history, from the remnants of the original city walls built by Boabdil, to the timeless gypsy barrio of Sacromonte and the Arabic barrio of El Albaicín. This is one of Spain’s most ethnically diverse cities with cuisine that blends Mediterranean, Moroccan, and traditional Spanish ingredients, and flamenco, the traditional Spanish dance descended from the gypsies. Cosmopolitan Granada bustles with activity and bursts at the seams with history.