Drive 5 hours south from Madrid and you’ll reach Granada, undoubtedly one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Granada (which is also the Spanish word for “pomegranate”, many of which are grown in the surrounding area) is home to the Alhambra, the most iconic and well preserved remnant of the Moors’ underappreciated stay on the Iberian Peninsula.

In fact, Granada was the last stronghold of the Moorish reign, before it finally fell during the Reconquista in 1492. The retaking of Spain by the Catholics is still widely celebrated today, but clearly this is a part of the country that doesn’t shun its heritage as much as most. You can spot the Arabic twelve-sided star on shop facades, there are winding outdoor markets selling Moorish trinkets, and even the name of the region is a throwback to olden times. Granada is in Andalusia, which…