The Alhambra with the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains in the background

The Albayzín

We walked (hiked) up El Albayzín, the ancient Muslim ghetto on a hill overlooking Granada. When Catholic king and queen, Fernando and Isabel, gave the last remaining Moorish kingdom of Granada the boot in the late 15th century, those who chose to convert to Christianity and remain in Spain were sequestered in El Albayzín. It’s a warren of winding alleys and whitewashed hideaways.

Just as we came to the highest point on the hill,

courtyard in the Albayzín

Marcus peeked through a gateway and found himself in a little café/restaurante, El Huerto de Juan Ranas, perched on the edge of the ridge. What a gorgeous view of the Alhambra across the River Darro with the Sierra Nevadas in the background! I could have sat there all day admiring the view.