site castle with a series of palaces and gardens. From the summit of its wooded hill, the Alhambra rises about 150 m. above the city. Its palaces were built by several rulers starting in the late 13th century. The carrying ideas behind several of the buildings of the Alhambra have been said to be an Arabic attempt to create heaven on earth. The romantic design is made up of a mixture of slender columnar arcades, fountains, and light-reflecting water basins. Most prominent is the Lion Court. Currently, there are approximately 8,000 visitors per day to the Alhambra, and it is Spain’s most visited monument.Other important sights include the university that was chartered in 1531 by Charles V, the cathedral built between 1523 and 1703, the Sacromonte hill that overlooks the city from the North, which is famous for its cave dwellings, the Generalife, a summer palace that stands at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, and the Albaicin, an old Arabic quarter located on the hill opposite the Alhambra.Entertainment in the city of Granada, besides visiting the many monuments, includes folk festivals, international music performances, dancing, jazz, theater, and tango festivals. Sports include skiing through the Sierras, windsurfing, golf, and other various activities....
