The mosque-cathedral, with its extraordinary mihrab, is without doubt a masterpiece of Muslim art. Construction was started in 780, on the site of the Visigothic church of St-Vincent. A series of new naves was subsequently added until 987, when it acquired its current dimensions. After the Reconquest, it was transformed into a place of Christian worship, and in the 16C a Gothic cathedral was erected inside the forest of columns, in so doing creating one of the most unique buildings in the world.

With its whitewashed alleyways, flower-decked patios, ornamental wrought-iron work and typical bars, it is impossible to resist the charms of the Judería. Step away from the Mezquita and its hordes of tourists to explore one of Spain’s most beautiful medieval districts. Highlights include the Almodóvar gate, the Calle Judíos, the district’s most famous street, an Andalucian house (at n°12), and the Casa de Sefarad, a cultural centre dedicated to the memory of Sephardic Jews.

This palace was extended on several occasions between the 14C and the 19C, which gives you an idea of the changes in civil architecture in Córdoba during this period. This unique and surprising complex of buildings covers an area of about 6 500m², mostly taken up twelve magnificent patios and a garden. Admire the palace’s beautiful interior, in particular the Salón de los Sentidos, decorate in mother-of-pearl, and a collection of embossed Cordoban leather (15C-19C).

«Let us build a church so big that those who see it will think us mad», that is what the cathedral chapter decided in 1401 when the mosque had to be knocked down. It is one of the last Spanish Gothic cathedrals and its size makes it the third largest in the Christian world. You will find a Pardoner's door, the peaceful courtyard of orange trees, the capilla Mayor and its huge Flemish retable, the impressive capilla Real, the paintings by artists of renown and many other treasures.

Emblem of Seville; a masterpiece of Almohad art, the minaret (96 m) of the old mosque was built in the12C. In the 16C the Cordovan architect Hernán Ruiz gave it its current appearance of a belfry by adding the bell chamber and four upper rooms and by adding the balconies. The whole is topped by a statue symbolising Faith and acting as a weathervane (giralda). The panoramic view over Seville is worth the effort of climbing it.

Modified and added to over the centuries, these stunning palatial buildings, first built in the 10C, are notable for their architectural diversity. Highlights here include Charles V’s room, originally built in the 13C by Alfonso X the Wise; superb 18C tapestries; the palace of Peter the Cruel, a masterpiece of Mudéjar art started in 1362; the spectacular Ambassadors' hall; and the delightful gardens, where water plays an all-important role.

It is impossible to resist the charm of this district extending as far as the church of Santa María la Blanca with its maze of alleyways, whitewashed houses, hidden flower-decked patios and tiny squares. As the Jewish district during the Middle Ages, it enjoyed the protection of the Crown after the Reconquest, but at the end of the 14C it was taken over by the Christians who transformed all the synagogues into churches. A stroll through this typical district is like a journey back in time.

With its fascinating architecture, sumptuous gardens and delightful water features, the Alhambra is the embodiment of refinement, where words fail to do justice to this paradise created by the Nasrid princes as the ultimate expression of a civilisation in decline. Both a fortress and a royal city, this architectural masterpiece is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Arab palaces ever built in the world.

Nazari Palaces, the Alcazaba, the Renaissance palace of Charles V, the museums, the Generalife, the stunning views over Albaicin and the city ... an unforgettable visit.

This district, which is quite typical of the town, bears the name of the hill on which it is situated and is a preferred viewpoint over the Alhambra. There the first Arab fortress in Granada was built. Today only the walls remain. Narrow streets interspersed with small pretty squares climb the hill lined with wealthy villas the carmens. Make this visit on foot to grasp all the charm of this Arab origin district.

It’s from the vantage point of San Nicolas that we enjoy the best view of Alhambra. The beauty of Alhambra and red ochre stains on the green hills, with a backdrop of the snowcapped Sierra Nevada, is a simply incomparable show.

A masterpiece of Isabeline Gothic both for the unity of style as well as the richness of its ornamentation, which is by Enrique Egas. Inside, don't miss the spectacular grill of Bartholomew of Jaén which closes in the transept and in which is the mausoleum of the Catholic Monarchs and that of their daughter Juana the Mad and of her husband. The museum has valuable historical objects and an extraordinary collection of works by Spanish, Flemish and Italian masters.

Just next door is the renaissance style cathedral opposite the Madraza (Old Town Hall), which was the Koranic university. A little farther away is Alcaicería, which housed a silk market during the 'Muslim period, as well as Plaza Bib-Rambla.