44 Quotes About Granada Celebrating the Soul of Andalusia

Granada, nestled in Andalusia, Spain, is a city steeped in history and culture. Home to the iconic Alhambra palace and the charming Albayzín district, it offers a blend of Moorish architecture and centuries-old traditions. With the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains as its backdrop and the vibrant rhythms of flamenco in the air., Granada is a dream destination.

In this collection of quotes about Granada quotes, we discover the unique spirit of this captivating city.

Granada Bucket List: 10 Unmissable Must-Sees!


Before we get into quotes about Granada, here are 5 Granada must-sees:

1. Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens: The Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage site showcases Nasrid palaces, military fortifications, and Generalife Gardens, featuring water features and meticulously landscaped greenery.

2. Albaicín District and Sacromonte Caves: The Albaicín is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Granada, renowned for its Moorish architecture and narrow cobblestone streets. Make sure to venture to Sacromonte to witness the unique cave dwellings and experience authentic Flamenco performances.

3. Cathedral of Granada and Royal Chapel: The Cathedral of Granada is a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture. It houses an impressive collection of art and sculptures. Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Royal Chapel, the final resting place of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, known as the Catholic Monarchs.

4. Mirador de San Nicolás: It is a perfect place to enjoy breathtaking views of the Alhambra, set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.

5. Tapas Tour and Flamenco Show: Sampling of traditional Spanish dishes at local taverns and an experience of a Flamenco show, it can’t get any better!

1. “The truth is, that I’m beginning to wonder if there is any greater pleasure in life than visiting Granada and it is going back and visiting it again.” — Alexandre Dumas

2. “Granada is the most prodigious creation of man on Spanish soil.” Washington Irving

3. “My eyes filled with tears; not tears of sorrow nor of happiness, but of fulfillment of a quiet, hidden life in Granada.” Miguel de Unamuno

4. “If you were to visit just one city in Spain, it should be Granada.”Ernest Hemingway

Stunning View of the Alhambra in Granada / Quotes About Granada

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

Granada stands as a pivotal city in Spain’s history, notably recognized as the final stronghold of Moorish rule before the Reconquista in 1492. Serving as the capital of the Emirate of Granada, it witnessed the reign of the Nasrid dynasty, who oversaw the construction of landmarks like the Alhambra Palace. The Reconquista’s culmination marked a significant shift as Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, captured Granada, bringing an end to Muslim rule in Spain and unifying the nation under Christian sovereignty.

5. “Granada; more dazzling than the flower and more flavourful than the fruit it is named after, like a virgin lying in the sun.”Alexandre Dumas

6. “Granada, the fairy-like city of the Alhambra.”Alexandre Dumas

7. “In Granada, there are more enchantments than scarlet seeds in the fruit of the valleys.”Victor Hugo

8. “Never in my life have I lived in a place more delightful and never will I find one the same.”Washington Irving

9. “Granada is so moving that it stimulates and melts all of the senses.” — Henri Matisse

View of Granada from the Alhambra / Quotes About Granada

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

The Nasrid palaces within the Alhambra complex exemplify the pinnacle of Islamic art and architecture in Spain. These palaces, constructed during the Nasrid dynasty’s reign over Granada, feature intricate stucco work, geometric tile patterns, ornate ceilings, and lush gardens. They serve as a testament to the Nasrids’ patronage of the arts and their ability to blend architectural styles from various cultural influences, creating a unique and awe-inspiring architectural masterpiece.

10. “Granada is a part of my skin, my eyes, my hair, my song, my food, my children, my parents…I’ll always return to Granada.”Estrella Morente

11. “Ah, the storybook kingdom of Granada. One of the oldest, most complex, magically surreal places in Spain. And one of the most beautiful.”Anthony Bourdain

12. “Give him alms, woman, because there is nothing sadder in life than being blind in Granada.” Francisco de Icaza

13. “Every curious traveller keeps Granada in his heart, even without having visited.”William Shakespeare

14. “The Alhambra is an architectural treasure that seems to have been created by the gods themselves.” — Washington Irving

15. “The Alhambra is a gift of history that endures in time as a symbol of greatness.” — Ernest Hemingway

16. “The Alhambra is a marble poem, a dream made architecture.” — Victor Hugo

The Alhambra in Granada / Quotes About Granada

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

The Alhambra was originally constructed as a small fortress in 889 AD on the remains of Roman fortifications. It was transformed into a royal palace in the mid-13th century by the Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar. The Alhambra’s name is derived from the Arabic words “Al-Qala’a al-Hamra,” which means “the red fortress,” likely referring to the color of its walls.

17. “The Alhambra is a jewel of the Orient shining in the heart of Andalusia.” — Federico García Lorca

18. “The Alhambra, a temple of beauty and art, where time stands still and silence speaks.”Federico García Lorca

19. “To the traveller imbued with a feeling for the historical and poetical, so inseparately interwined in the annals of romantic Spain, the Alhambra is a much an object of devotion as is the Caaba to all true Moslems. How many legends and traditions, true and fabulous, – how many songs and ballards, Arabian and Spanish, of love and war and chivalry, are associated with this Oriental pile!” — Washington Irving

20. “This is the dream of all the world. The dream is to live in Granada. You know, work in the morning, have a one-hour nap in the afternoon, and at night go out and have that life. Go out and see your friends and eat tapas and drink red wine and be in a beautiful place.”Anthony Bourdain

21. “I will never say that I trod on Granada but that I embraced it.” — Saddam Hussein

22. “Every city has its own charm, but Granada has its own and that of the rest.”Antonio Machado

The Granada Cathedral / Quotes About Granada

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

The Granada Cathedral, built in Spanish Renaissance style starting from 1523, is renowned for its grandeur and architectural detail. Its facade boasts intricate sculptural reliefs, while the interior houses a majestic nave, several chapels, and notable altarpieces. Notably, the Royal Chapel within the cathedral serves as the final resting place of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, marking its significance in Spanish history.

23. “I want the Arabic Granada, that which is art, which is all that seems to me beauty and emotion.”Isaac Albeniz

24. “Granada, last refuge from a tiring life. Eternal garden, shows remnants of paradise that still remain, in only very few privileged places on earth.”François-René de Chateaubriand

25. “Granada is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, and its geographical location must also be added to its rich heritage.”William Shakespeare

26. “I don’t know what to call this land upon which I stand. If what is beneath my feet is paradise, then what is the Alhambra, heaven?”Lope de Vega

27. “Granada is the perfect dream and fantasy, forever ineffable. Granada will always be more malleable than philosophical, more lyric than dramatic.” ― Federico García Lorca

28. “I have seen dawn and sunset on moors and windy hills Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain.”John Edward Masefield

29. “The Alhambra in Granada is the most fertile source of inspiration of all those from which I have drunk.”M.C. Escher

The Alhambra in Granada / Quotes About Granada

30. “Yes, the impact of your wonderful Granada is within me; sad, so sad, but a sadness so attractive that it draws me in and carries me with it like a thread through a needle. I need to take in each and every aspect of Granada.”Juan Ramón Jimenez

31. “It was Granada… rich and overpowering… They called it the Damascus of the West.”Pedro Antonio de Alarcón

32. “Perhaps there never was a monument more characteristic of an age and people than the Alhambra; a rugged fortress without, a voluptuous palace within; war frowning from its battles; poetry breathing throughout the fairy architecture of its halls.” — Washington Irving

33. “Granada is a treasure and it will stay in my mind as my most beautiful memory, for a long time.”Michelle Obama

34. “Granada is Spain’s most valued treasure; a melting pot of flavours, smells, and passion.”Víctor Hugo

35. “This city is present in me more than just my life.”Queen Isabella I of Castile

36. “Granada is like the beautiful, delicate land of our dreams; all those who see her, dream of visiting her again.”François-René de Chateaubriand

Stunning View of The Alhambra in Granada / Quotes About Granada

37. “Granada has no defences against the people, because nobody can defend themselves from praise.”Federico García Lorca

38. “How lazily the sun goes down in Granada, it hides beneath the water, it conceals in the Alhambra!” — Francisco de Asís de Icaza

39. “Stunning, radiant, welcoming Granada. Simply beautiful!.”Ladrón de Guevara y Checa

40. “Through the waters of Granada, only sighs can row.”Federico García Lorca

41. “In no part of the world is the landscape like that of Granada.”Manuel de Falla

42. “If I were to write a story, it would be set in Granada.”Federico García Lorca

43. “Perhaps there never was a monument more characteristic of an age and people than the Alhambra; a rugged fortress without, a voluptuous palace within; war frowning from its battlements; poetry breathing throughout the fairy architecture of its halls.” — Washington Irving

44. “At the beginning, I thought the best Islamic work was in Spain – the mosque in Cordoba, the Alhambra in Granada. But as I learned more, my ideas shifted. I traveled to Egypt, and to the Middle East many times.I found the most wonderful examples of Islamic work in Cairo, it turns out. I’d visited mosques there before, but I didn’t see them with the same eye as I did this time. They truly said something to me about Islamic architecture.” — I. M. Pei

You might also like…

134 Daisy Captions and Quotes Celebrating Life’s Simple Joys

131 Perfect Rainy Day Captions and Quotes to Brighten the Drizzle

139 Perfect Tea Time Captions and Quotes for Moments of Tranquili-Tea

21 Best Poems About Friendship Celebrating Timeless Bond

116 Inspiring Quotes About Letting Go and Finding Freedom

371 MOUNTAIN CAPTIONS and QUOTES for Adventure Seekers

Now, it is your turn,
I would like to hear back from you!

Let us know one of your favorite quotes about Granada and we will add it to the list. Hope to hear from you! Take care!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *