GRANADA, SPAIN
MARVEL AT THE GEOMETRIC BEAUT Y
OF THE ALHAMBRABuilt by 13th-century Nasrid sultans — rulers of the
longest-lasting and last Muslim dynasty on the Iberian
Peninsula — the Alhambra (‘red fort’) is considered the
Moorish architectural jewel of Europe. The almond-
shaped profile of this UNESCO World Heritage Site rests
on a hill above Granada, one of the most picturesque
cities in Spain.
But it’s the mathematical wizardry on display here
that’s particularly fascinating for families. Intricate
mosaics, arabesques (a repetitive, stylised pattern based
on a floral or vegetal design) and muqarnas (ornamental
vaulting) make the Alhambra a masterpiece of geometric
beauty — and a colourful classroom for age-appropriate
exploration of maths concepts, such as shapes, symmetry,
proportion and measurement.
Maths also flows through the Alhambra’s other main
design feature — water. Water provides the refreshing
spirit of the gardens and the murmur of its fountains but
is also an element of the architecture itself.
At the Palace of the Lions, one of the Alhambra’s three
original royal palaces, families will marvel at the central
fountain. Its elaborate design features 12 stone lions
supporting a large marble basin on their backs and
— thanks to the technical wonder of complex hydraulics
— spitting water from their mouths.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIAJES (SPAIN)DANUBE RIVER
TAKE A CRUISE THROUGH STORYBOOK L ANDBoating the Danube can seem like travelling through a
realm of fairytales, with its scrolling views of castles,
medieval towns and stately palaces that help to bring
European history vividly to life. The river twists through
10 countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary,
Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and
Ukraine), and most Danube cruise itineraries include
stops in at least four of those, with special family sailings
featuring child-friendly onshore activities.
School lessons focusing on feudalism in the Middle
Ages take on vivid dimensions when exploring Veste
Oberhaus in Passau, Germany, one of the largest
surviving castle complexes in Europe. Ages-old
Hungarian equestrian traditions come alive on a
southern Hungarian ranch, where fearless csikós, or
mounted herdsmen, ride standing upright and balance
on the backs of two galloping horses.
When off the water, look to wheels. Board Vienna’s
iconic giant Ferris wheel, the Riesenrad, or take a
bike ride among terraced vineyards in Lower Austria’s
UNESCO-listed Wachau Cultural Landscape.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER (ROMANIA)Family
View over the tightly packed streets
of the Albaicín in Granada, Spain
ABOVE: Fishermen at the Saint
George branch of the Danube
River, Dobruja, RomaniaIM
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BEST OF THE WORLDJan/Feb 2022 97