Sitting right in the heart of the old city, close to the Alcaicería (old silk market) and right next to the Royal Chapel, (where the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella are buried) stands the Catedral de Granada. When the Catholic Monarchs finally completed their grand campaign known as the Reconquista, they specifically chose Granada to be their final resting place .   Together, the cathedral and chapel serve as a national monument of Spanish identity, tying monarchy, religion, and architecture into one grand narrative. The cathedral has long been seen as a counterpoint to the Alhambra, representing the grandeur of Christian legacy just as the Alhambra  represents the Islamic Golden Age. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

Of all the structures in Islamic Spain, none had a story as iconic as that of the Alhambra of Granada. It is a tale told within the context of the almost 800 year long struggle (known as the Reconquista) by the various Christian kingdoms of the Iberian peninsula (now Spain and Portugal) to reconquer territory from the Muslims. The Alhambra was the last great Muslim stronghold in Spain, standing until 1492, when the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon) took Granada in the final act of the Reconquista. To visit the UNESCO World Heritage site is to visit two sections forming the single monumental complex: the Generalife and beside it, the Alhambra. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

In the battle for the fate of the Iberian peninsula, one city stood as the final stronghold of Islamic rule, Granada. This is the story of how one of history's greatest power couples conquered its crown jewel, united their respective kingdoms, and funded voyages that led to the discovery of the Americas; transforming not only Spain but also the world. However, one cannot fully appreciate the city without learning about its bloody history. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.