stefanogiordano

<p>Simon, I have been there in september when there are few tourists compared to august, anyway, if you took the same tickets I did (at the Caixa) you should get there the day before to print your ticket from the automatic cash machine.<br>

With that ticket you can enter and visit all the palace except the Royal Palace that you shoyld visit at the exact time it is stamped on your ticket.<br>

You should get at the Alhambra in the morning because the complex is huge, or trying to enter the Alhambra at least one hour before the time stamped on your ticket.<br>

Big queues are just at the cashes if you decide to buy a ticket for the same day and enter, but, if you reserve in advance I don't see any major issues.<br>

Ah if I'd be you I'd consider to take an evening visit also, the place is really MAGIC!<br>

Cheers!</p>

<p>Stefano</p>

Wow just got back and I need to say, first of all, thanks for all your suggestions as the trip was really exciting and Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla are absoultely F A N T A S T I C ! ! !

I can confirm what Mohir wrote about Albaicin and Sacromonte, there are fantastic views and places for eating and drinking outside, but they are safer than the average streets of the major cities around Europe! The view of the Alhambra from San Nicholas Miradero and Sacromonte hill are top notch and are not to be missed!

Cordoba also is very nice and offers a lot of nice views in La Juderia and all around La Mezquita.

I am now downloading the 1200 pics to my hard drive but I promise to post something soon.

Ciao!

Stefano

@Roeland: I apologize because I travelled a lot (not to mention 4 times to your wonderful country) and I worked outside Italy for a couple of years.

I don't want to go OT (neither to be banned) but, it is true that guys like our prime minister (unfortunately) represent well our current average mentality: apparence, fashion, corruption...

There's no Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, Enrico Fermi, Meucci, Federico Fellini or Rossini anymore!

Sciences, culture and research are poorer and poorer, we only care about pope, soccer, ferrari and pasta...

People earn less than the average european citizen but the cost of life is the same as Paris or Amsterdam, we have problems with energy and rubbish (not only in Naples).

A lot of valid young people are going to work abroad because they can not afford to settle a family... the average salary for a young graduate is around 1100€ while an apartment rent is about 1200€

Yes Italy is a wonderful country indeed but just for vacation!

Ciaociao!

Stefano

@Mohir: I didn't ask if it was generally unsafe but, you know, at night I would not put my D200/17-35mm/manfrotto

tripod even in the neighbourhood of MY PLACE! :D

Generally speaking if I do a trip or a reportage I'd like to be invisible, no jewels or rolex or things that could potentially

appeal thiefs! that was my only concern :) (I am not the usual italian tourist going around with Prada bags, D&G

sunglasses and so on ;) )

If you want to attach a picture you can upload it after you saved the message.

Maybe the only "problem" could be, as David stated, that the caves thing is a tourist trap or a rip-off.

THANKS again guys!

Thanks again, I will take this advice as well...even if somebody warned me about Albaicin being a little bit unsafe at night... any clues?

Stefano

David I have been dreaming about visiting the Alhambra since a a lot of time, and I am prepared to everything but bureaucracy really drives me insane :D

I will try to carry as many lenses I can from 20mm to 85mm not forgetting the 60mm micro! the only thing I regret is that tripods are not allowed :( but I have a pocket size Manfrotto that I hope I will be allowed to use...

Thanks for the answer!

Stefano

PS I will be there NEXT monday! WOW!

Ok guys I have reserved the tickets from La Caixa internet site... well I am sorry to say that but, this story really

su@#s!

If you buy a tickets with a non issued in Spain C/C you can only collect the tickets from the box office at la

Alhambra: that means that you have to queue anyway! holy gosh! I can't believe it!

I am from Rome, Italy and I admit that we italian are not the best at organizing things (well amongst other 1000

things that we could do better!) but the Alhambra staff wins the world cup of customer unfriendliness! I am sure that

the visit worths it but...

Anyway thanks in advance to ALL of you for the contributions!

Ciao!

Stefano

Thanks again! that's the common opinion so I'll for the morning and evening visits ;)

Ciao!

Stefano

Well the pictures are good indeed ;) the amazing thing is that there's no people in them! :)

Thanks!

Stefano

@Jeff: I knew today by chance, that they don't sell more than 2000 tickets per day thus, it would be better to book well in advance to avoid long queues!

@Bill: yes it helped a lot! because I decided to book for an evening entrance as well! :)

Ciao!

Stefano

PS none of you guys has a photo of the Alhambra? :p

Thanks to both of you guys for the (quick and) useful tips:

@John: I will try to take the tripod but I already know I will be forced to leave it outside :( to avoid queues I will book in advance on an internet site: they charge one euro per person for the service but for me it is better than queuing since early morning!

@Rachelle: I am seriously considering your advice of booking both an early morning and an evening entrance: even if I won't be allowed to bring my tripod I think that the evening visit experience could be worthwhile.

Thanks again!

Stefano

Dear all, I am going to visit Andalucia very soon (sept 1st) and of course I will visit the Alhambra Palace.

As it looks like you must book well in advance your visit (there are some restrictions on the maximum number of

visitors

allowed per day) the first question (dilemma) that came to my mind is: what would be the best time to visit the

palace for taking pictures?

There are 2 time shifts 830am 130pm and 2pm 8pm ...my obvious answer was "I choose the 2nd shift" but I'd like to

have

a confirmation from someone that already visited and photographed the place.

Thanks in advance! :)

Stefano