 The Granada-Tesol courses in the perfect place to enjoy the present and discover the past. History is all around you here. Granada's rich cultural history and architecture is fervently kept alive. The sumptuous cuisine, the sound of flamenco music played late into the night, and the coming together of Christianity and Islam is truly amazing, Granada is a one-of-a-kind place. Granada has one of the last fortresses of the Moorish Empire to be built in Western Europe. The world-renowned Alhambra and the Genera Life are examples of the magnificence of this intriguing civilization. Here in 1492, Christopher Columbus gained the support he required and a charter from Queen Isabella to explore a new trade route to India, which eventually resulted in discovering the Americas. Granada Cathedral is the tomb of the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. Visit the Medina, the Moroccan market of shops and tahtarias, tea shops, in the shadow of Granada Cathedral, located in an intricate maze of narrow alleyways. You can also visit the fascinating Sacramont Gypsy Barrio, home of the flamenco puro, meet a totally unique people, with their ardour for dance and music, and see their intriguing cave homes. Granada has a remarkable geography, being located in a magical valley between the relatively warm Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, only a 45-minute car ride to beaches, 75 minutes to Malaga, and 30 minutes to a ski resort in the Sierra Nevada, 3,400 meters, 11,050 feet, high. Encounter the essence of Andalusian Spain during the Pausos of Sumanasanta, Easter Week, first enacted in medieval times and portraying the passion of Christ. Costelleros carry massive heavy statues of the Virgin Mary, Christ, and saints on their shoulders in process from the many churches in Granada, winding through the streets and into the cathedral, finally returning to their own churches. Some of these journeys take 14 hours. The ancient brotherhood of the Cafradia, dedicated to the preservation of this and other celebrations throughout the year, takes part in the processions and decorates the statues, particularly those of the Virgin Mary. Don't miss the Andalusian food while visiting here. This cuisine is characterized by simple yet delicious flavors. Favorites include Piscotto Frito, fish delicately coated with flour and sauteed olive oil, Gaspacho, the famous cold tomato soup, a vegetable cream made with cucumber, garlic, paprika, olive oil, vinegar and served with bread, patatas pabra, a hot pot of vegetables and potatoes, huevos a la flamenca, a fried egg and tomato sauce with chorizo, a spicy Spanish sausage, and of course the delectable paella. Enjoy the social experience of tapas, a famous daily Andalusian tradition, at one of the very many bars in the city, a favorite way to snack and get to know some people.