Submitted by Elizabeth Villec on the 2024 Winter SPAN program in Granada, Spain…
Before coming to Granada, I was unaware of the extensive history of the area. The first week of classes were devoted to learning all about this history and highlighting culturally significant things that were hidden all around us. It is first important to address the history of the Iberian Peninsula, the area of land that forms much of Spain and Portugal. During the centuries of 711 to 1492 (the same year that Columbus sailed the ocean blue), the Iberain Peninsula was under Islamic control. There is so much rich history from this era splattered all throughout Spain however it is most visible in Granada as it was the last area of the Peninsula to be taken under Chrisitian control. Unfortunately, there was destruction of not only buildings but also of culture during the conquest of the Peninsula. With the knowledge of this history, walking through the oldest neighborhood in Granada called Albaicín and touring the Alhambra, a palace city constructed in the 1200s. Throughout the Albaicín, there were a multitude of “cuestas” which refers to very steep hills that made the walk difficult. However, the architecture of the houses along the way, the anecdotes our instructor was telling us about the history and culture of the neighborhood, and the incredible views of the sunset made the trek well worth it. It is an area I know I will return to before the end of this incredible experience. Alhambra was another unforgettable experience. While again the hike to the top was constructed of many cuestas, the experience was well worth it. Walking alongside buildings preserved from the 13th century was an incredible experience. To experience the moorish culture and see what destruction can occur when we as a society either feel as though we are entitled to something or do not protect something so culturally rich brought me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and our jobs as citizens of the world to work together to protect cultural landmarks. Learning the history in class was of course very interesting, however, experiencing it first hand has been life changing. (Submitted on January 17, 2024)
