![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DG52JAKZXXAKJ3HGRN2T57RP5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=a14866fc432a4fd48d39643601faf6ede525af64e01f4de1a3e90d8c6b3307ba&width=400&height=225)
The Courtyard of the Orange Trees, outside the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M5R5OZ5MM3WWIMB6YOAFSSVDWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=06bcd806c49d70bdda16a10e48f9cf4a4fa196b945932616c3a6dbdea0452bdf&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona's iconic Park Güell, designed by famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DPDGJIMYOZLROXJ2JGD4G5H2SE.jpg?smart=true&auth=389a7273c65c298685750dd1ad5ed17ea60d64fe498dd35c6ccda02c1618bbcb&width=400&height=225)
Plaça Reial, a square in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5P375LTAQKZ5DHLCSIYODRLKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a1a86ecd310a0357c14b8cca922f930195db58e8bd1d0107adb42f5f8fa7070&width=400&height=225)
Gran Via, one of Madrid's most popular shopping streets. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGWER7GFMCCD7AUHQ5WB6Z754A.jpg?smart=true&auth=dee5fb6e9da410f3d90998e8b3f97ec4a64fd02ab13050bcda54def88eb753f4&width=400&height=225)
El Retiro, a popular historic garden and park in Madrid's centre. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NWXM75EPENHNUHNRABMH4N2TFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d7ffc79087bf08ae7a5ff7b75caf0c39ac6d4a539435443d39043000a1aec4f&width=400&height=225)
The former Monastery of San Francisco is now a four-star hotel in the Alhambra complex. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WNFARTOLMAG7PFVF2QAUT4FO4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=11d222053c21128213a9897b950a1c5167dd7127ee66f47073c10b41438c431f&width=400&height=225)
Daraxa's Garden, once also known as Garden of the Orange Trees, in the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra, Granada. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KZ5AW76APSZBD6ECQE6VGEBPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=847505cd53d9e7d2b433281f2eada2d4b7c3ee1797d2dba8b5a058a3964c522d&width=400&height=225)
Tourists admire the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra, Granada. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHEZ3EWZGTTGH52QFEBQ6UIZZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0faf8066de21e6a42bc2902c4614bd7cff77eb9802dc27069e6b9e5cc50360a8&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Albaycín, the Arab Quarter of Granada, from the Alhambra. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L4LM2TX4U7AITEGLENP7HAB32E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee80a19365c7a3a8ccffa3fac04f7418486f474c9af510834faa98308c5dbc96&width=400&height=225)
The Alhambra by night as seen from the Albaycín. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OUQHTAF43NLCAVNV272LCUWLHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=acf2aa4adb44e7b793bd0f02a72a4d24788ae7d5450dfa90edf6ea2fdfb462d9&width=400&height=225)
Tourists enjoy a horse and carriage ride through Seville. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HAPI5GPRLDGHFND26J5VNTHZ2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=63e5743b6c477dd36c3b2c8206a468ed457d90681af313e76e93269834f9312c&width=400&height=225)
The Royal Alcázar, one of Seville and Spain's most representative Islamic monuments. Kira Walker for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JRPSTV4QSBKHS22W7637UUBM7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a05060b2607b2f02a3fedae48aeb6040bcc10c18e15ce4c198c1db51af1bec7&width=400&height=225)
Seville's Royal Alcázar is the oldest royal residence in Europe still in use. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLUEDNIZGRRIJRUQYFGB7XEBBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6365118f00114eb1eeef8de9798523b469cbd296ca12685d9af7e6f107d39ec5&width=400&height=225)
The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba, is one of the most important monuments of the Western Islamic world. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UUHNUFOZOPG6D7VPCDRBDAZ7ZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d616630120ab18ec958432148c35d570c644f05c04807565e440cc00c2e26faf&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, which dates to the 8th Century. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DG52JAKZXXAKJ3HGRN2T57RP5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=a14866fc432a4fd48d39643601faf6ede525af64e01f4de1a3e90d8c6b3307ba&width=400&height=225)
The Courtyard of the Orange Trees, outside the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M5R5OZ5MM3WWIMB6YOAFSSVDWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=06bcd806c49d70bdda16a10e48f9cf4a4fa196b945932616c3a6dbdea0452bdf&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona's iconic Park Güell, designed by famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DPDGJIMYOZLROXJ2JGD4G5H2SE.jpg?smart=true&auth=389a7273c65c298685750dd1ad5ed17ea60d64fe498dd35c6ccda02c1618bbcb&width=400&height=225)
Plaça Reial, a square in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5P375LTAQKZ5DHLCSIYODRLKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a1a86ecd310a0357c14b8cca922f930195db58e8bd1d0107adb42f5f8fa7070&width=400&height=225)
Gran Via, one of Madrid's most popular shopping streets. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QGWER7GFMCCD7AUHQ5WB6Z754A.jpg?smart=true&auth=dee5fb6e9da410f3d90998e8b3f97ec4a64fd02ab13050bcda54def88eb753f4&width=400&height=225)
El Retiro, a popular historic garden and park in Madrid's centre. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NWXM75EPENHNUHNRABMH4N2TFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d7ffc79087bf08ae7a5ff7b75caf0c39ac6d4a539435443d39043000a1aec4f&width=400&height=225)
The former Monastery of San Francisco is now a four-star hotel in the Alhambra complex. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WNFARTOLMAG7PFVF2QAUT4FO4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=11d222053c21128213a9897b950a1c5167dd7127ee66f47073c10b41438c431f&width=400&height=225)
Daraxa's Garden, once also known as Garden of the Orange Trees, in the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra, Granada. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KZ5AW76APSZBD6ECQE6VGEBPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=847505cd53d9e7d2b433281f2eada2d4b7c3ee1797d2dba8b5a058a3964c522d&width=400&height=225)
Tourists admire the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra, Granada. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHEZ3EWZGTTGH52QFEBQ6UIZZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0faf8066de21e6a42bc2902c4614bd7cff77eb9802dc27069e6b9e5cc50360a8&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Albaycín, the Arab Quarter of Granada, from the Alhambra. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L4LM2TX4U7AITEGLENP7HAB32E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee80a19365c7a3a8ccffa3fac04f7418486f474c9af510834faa98308c5dbc96&width=400&height=225)
The Alhambra by night as seen from the Albaycín. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OUQHTAF43NLCAVNV272LCUWLHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=acf2aa4adb44e7b793bd0f02a72a4d24788ae7d5450dfa90edf6ea2fdfb462d9&width=400&height=225)
Tourists enjoy a horse and carriage ride through Seville. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HAPI5GPRLDGHFND26J5VNTHZ2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=63e5743b6c477dd36c3b2c8206a468ed457d90681af313e76e93269834f9312c&width=400&height=225)
The Royal Alcázar, one of Seville and Spain's most representative Islamic monuments. Kira Walker for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JRPSTV4QSBKHS22W7637UUBM7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a05060b2607b2f02a3fedae48aeb6040bcc10c18e15ce4c198c1db51af1bec7&width=400&height=225)
Seville's Royal Alcázar is the oldest royal residence in Europe still in use. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLUEDNIZGRRIJRUQYFGB7XEBBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6365118f00114eb1eeef8de9798523b469cbd296ca12685d9af7e6f107d39ec5&width=400&height=225)
The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba, is one of the most important monuments of the Western Islamic world. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UUHNUFOZOPG6D7VPCDRBDAZ7ZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d616630120ab18ec958432148c35d570c644f05c04807565e440cc00c2e26faf&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, which dates to the 8th Century. Photo by Kira Walker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DG52JAKZXXAKJ3HGRN2T57RP5E.jpg?smart=true&auth=a14866fc432a4fd48d39643601faf6ede525af64e01f4de1a3e90d8c6b3307ba&width=400&height=225)
The Courtyard of the Orange Trees, outside the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Photo by Kira Walker
'Muslim Spain' vies for moment in the sun as halal tourism takes off
With Islamic heritage, top football teams, Mediterranean climate and diverse gastronomy, tourism operators say Spain has the right ingredients
Kira Walker
02 April, 2019
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic