Blogger, Kacie Lennon
Journey From Sevilla to Granada
Daily Highlights:
- Morning Departure from Sevilla
- Train Journey to Granada (~2.5 hours)
- Leisure Reading and Presentation Preparation
- Arrival and Check-in at Hotel in Granada
- Visit to Palacio de Dar-al-Horra with a presentation by Jemma
- Visit to El Maristan de Granada
- Visit to El Bañuelo
- Visit to Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo with a presentation by Ari
On the Road Again!
Another day, another hotel change! We started our morning with an early departure from Sevilla, bidding farewell to its vibrant streets and warm ambiance. The train journey to Granada, lasting roughly 2.5 hours, provided a nice break, perfect for starting my next read and getting a little work done on my next presentation on En Bañuelo in Granada! The smooth ride, punctuated by scenic views of the Andalusian countryside, provided a great atmosphere to prepare for the day ahead.
Exploring Granada
Our first stop was the Palacio de Dar-al-Horra, a former Nasrid palace in the Albaicín neighborhood. Jemma gave a thoughtful presentation on the site’s history, highlighting its connection to Aixa, the mother of Muhammad XII (Boabdil), the last Nasrid ruler of Granada.
Unlike some of the larger palaces we’ve seen, this one felt more intimate—its quiet courtyards and delicate tilework gave the impression of a domestic space that still carried political weight. I was struck by how the architecture seemed to balance beauty and privacy, especially in a building tied to female power. It made me wonder how women like Aixa shaped the spaces they inhabited—and how those spaces, in turn, shaped their influence.
Jemma's presentation in Palacio de Dar-al-Horra
From there, we made our way to El Maristán de Granada, the remains of what was once a major hospital during the Nasrid period. While the structure is mostly gone, it’s fascinating to think about what it represented in its time—a center for health, science, and care in a community deeply rooted in Islamic knowledge traditions.
Nearby, we visited El Bañuelo, a well-preserved 11th-century hammam (bathhouse). The vaulted ceilings with star-shaped skylights created a soft, filtered light that made the space feel calm and sacred. It was interesting to think about how these spaces were more than just for bathing—they were social and spiritual centers, tied to ideas of cleanliness and ritual.
Our final stop was the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo, where Ari gave a thoughtful presentation on the building’s layered history. Originally a Nasrid palace, it was later absorbed into a convent. The shift in religious and political power is literally visible in the architecture—Islamic designs and inscriptions still cover the walls, even beneath later Christian additions.
The building raised a lot of questions for me about how power is shown (or hidden) in architecture. What does it mean to take over a space and alter it? And how do those visual changes affect the way we understand the past?
We ended our day by admiring the cats that lived within the compound of the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo and heading to the grocery store to grab a quick dinner!
Ari presenting in the garden of the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo
Final Thoughts
Granada is already challenging me to think more deeply about how cities carry their histories. Nothing here feels one-dimensional—every space we’ve visited today has lived several lives.
Some questions I’m sitting with after today:
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How do we respectfully engage with places that hold such complex, sometimes painful histories?
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What stories are being told by these buildings—and what stories might be missing?
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How do we, as visitors, learn to read those stories more carefully?
I’m looking forward to what tomorrow brings and to continuing to explore the many layers of this city!