Granada Areas

Albaycin

Granada’s ancient Muslim quarter. The origin of modern Granada, under Iberian and later Roman rule, the Albayzin owes its form to the Arab age, during which it became residence to kings and the royal court, as much during the Ziri emirate as on occasion during the Nazari age..
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1989, it is, in itself, a monument.
Many different people have lived in its streets and thus have given this quarter an interesting cultural fusion.
On the route through this Granada neighbourhood we will come across the churches of San Cristóbal and San Bartolomé, and their respective wells. These are not the only ones we will find; there is also the Well of San Luis and the well in the plaza del Salvador, located at the beginning of the Cuesta de Chapiz. We will also see the wells of las Tomasas and el Rey, which is the oldest in all of Granada. The Albayzin wall hails from the Nazari age. It was erected in the second half of the 14th century to defend the neighbourhoods on the San Cristóbal hill – the Albayzin and the AlbaydaIba. It runs from the Puerta de Guadix, the end of the modern day Paseo de los Tristes, passing through San Miguel Alto, the Fajalauza gateway, Postigo de San Lorenzo until reaching the Puerta de Elvira. We will also find the Casa Morisca de Yanguas and the churches of el Salvador, built in the Mudejar style in the 16th century on top of the old Mezquita Mayor, the main mosque of the Albayzin. We will finish the route with the Torreón and the Aljibe de Bibalbonud, the Mirador de San Nicolás and the Puerta de Hizna Román.
Visiting the Albayzin quarter is a one-of-a-kind experience that only Granada could offer you, where every corner tells a tale of history, poetry and art… It is the only place in the world that has such impressive views of the Alhambra.

Alhambra

The Alhambra is an Andalusian palatine city in Granada. Etymologically speaking, Alhambra in Arabic means "Al Hamra", coming from the full name "Qal'at al-hamra" (Red Fortress).
One legend tells about the puerta de la Justicia in regards to the construction of the Alhambra. The dedication in the construction of the Alhambra has always been talked about, as much about the decorative aspects as the architecture. It is said that its construction was so strong that even when attacked by a thousand enemy armies, it never fell. So, according to legend, the day the keystone of the interior arch of the Puerta de la Justicia meets the foot of its outer arch, meaning if it were to fall, it would be the end of the world.
The Alhambra is a beautiful group of buildings and gardens. The lush tree groves provide a pleasant shade and freshness that is enhanced by the abundant waters that run through its creeks. The enclosure of the Palace is formed by beautiful rectangular patios and numerous fountains, as well as the Nazari buildings that served as dwellings for the kings and their servants. The oldest building is the Alcazaba. One of the most important constructions is the Vela tower, which offers one of the most astounding views of the Alhambra. The patio of the Leones and its fountain is one of the most beautiful patios in the Alhambra.

It is, in itself, an architectural achievement without rival in the entire world, having recently been near induction as one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

Alpujarra

The peacefulness in its small white towns, the five natural parks in the province and the Sierra Nevada National Park make Granada a paradise for those who are looking for rest, tranquillity, and a connection with nature during their vacation.
 
It is one of the most unique regions in all of Europe. The beauty of its incredible landscapes has captivated numerous artists and writers for centuries. It is, arguably, the area that has been the inspiration of the largest number of travel books.
    The physical environment of the Alpujarra, Sierra Nevada, has been declared part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO – the Natural Park and National Park above all for its endemic botany and its unique ecoculture.

These are just a few of the reasons why we recommend you to visit, but if you do, you are sure to find much more that you will never forget.

Centro

A dynamic city, Granada has a historic centre with a great variety of architectures from different periods, which makes it a great attraction for the visitor… from the large avenues to the long side streets that run through the city, its streets are the perfect setting for large firms as well as smaller businesses where the owners surprise us with vanguard designs. We can enjoy endless stops on a culinary tour of the city with something for everyone, even those with the most refined of palates.

There are plenty of museums and monuments situated in this part of the city – the Cathedral, considered the first Renaissance church in Spain and one of the greatest exponents of this artistic order. The Catholic Kings mandated its construction in 1492 and it was originally based on the gothic model of the Toledo Cathedral. In the Royal Chapel, which houses the remains of D. Fernando de Aragón and Dª Isabel de Castilla, Dª. Juana I and D. Felipe I and prince Miguel…we find a deep historic and human sentiment and recognize its religious importance, expressed with rich artistry: architecture, sculpture, paintings, gold and silverworks, tapestries... all expressed in three styles: gothic, renaissance, and baroque.
You can visit the temple and its architecture and decoration, the royal mausoleums, and the crypt, the main altarpiece, the fenceline, the altarpieces and the baroque sculptures.

La vega de Granada

Federico García Lorca is, without a doubt, the most famous child of La Vega de Granada, his figure, his name, his history…everything about him is reminiscent of La Vega, the same as how la Vega reaches out to Federico through every crack of the earth… La Vega de Granada has been linked to the city ever since the Moorish kings ruled over the city of La Alhambra. It is impossible to understand the Arabic Granada without the Vega, since it was its gateway, guard, and pantry.

A protected space for its natural beauty, the Vega de Granda it an enclave of farmers full of charm in southern Spain, where the highest quality products are produced thanks to daily labour. It is the perfect area for a vacation to Granada, due to its multitude of hiking and biking routes. You simply must visit those places highlighted for their role in the life, war, and expulsion of the Moors and Christians. If you are looking for nature, we highly recommend you visit one of the two marshes: Cubillas or Colomera, or also get to know Sierra Elvira. This is nature as the climax of a visit to one of the most historical cities in Spain.

Realejo

Situated at the foot of the Alhambra facing southeast, the Realejo retains the mesh of maze-like streets from its time.

Even before the arrival of the Moors in the 8th century, the Jews had their citadel on the left edge of the Darro river. The city identified itself with the Jews in such a way that the Moors called it "Garnata al-Yahud", Granada of the Jews. When the Christians captured the city, they destroyed the Jewish quarter and renamed it El Realejo, since it had been taken for the Crown.
The most important public space of the quarter is the Campo del Principe, created by the Catholic Kings to celebrate the wedding party of their son Juan. The Campo del Principe is a hotspot for nightlife, as it is filled up with tables from the many taverns that surround it.

In the Realejo, we will find many interesting buildings such as El Carmen de Los Mártires, El Auditorio and the museum of Manuel de Falla, as well as the Fundación Rodriguez Acosta or Las Torres Bermejas, among others. This is the quarter favoured by the literary, explorers, painters, and artists of every period in which to live at some point in their life. This environment has left an imprint on the Realejo where everyone that passes through its streets can sense the diverse background any day of the week. And of course, it is also where you must go to try the Tapas, and let the chefs surprise you.

Sacramonte

Granada is one of the main spots for flamenco in Spain, specifically in the Sacromonte, one of flamenco’s birthplaces. This gypsy neighbourhood is the epicentre of what the experts call the ‘jondura’ and ‘el duende’. Also, it is where the ‘zambra’ originated, a celebration of flamenco song and dance with roots in the wedding celebrations of the Moriscoes in the 16th century. This celebration is remembered every night in the old caves, now converted into flamenco bars. There you can enjoy authentic shows starring traditional gypsy families from the neighbourhood. It was common until a little while ago to find spontaneous flamenco shows in the streets of the Sacromonte, although nowadays the majority of the gypsies don’t live here, but the nights still have a lot of ambience.

Sierra Nevada

It surprises many visitors that in Granada, in Andalucia, which is famous for its beaches and abundance of sun, you can ski. Not only are you able to ski, but the Sierra Nevada is actually the best winter location in Spain. The Mulhacén peak, the highest on the Iberian Peninsula, rises to 3,478 metres, an altitude that guarantees an abundance of quality snow even though the Sierra Nevada ski station is the most southern in Europe.

But also, Sierra Nevada is the twelfth Spanish National Park. It covers an expanse of 170,000 hectares, distributed across a total of 60 city borders shared between the provinces of Granada and Almeria. Sierra Nevada is the last great natural wall in Southern Europe. It majestically rises from 1,000 to 3,481 metres high running along a rugged line with views of the sea. Along them hide varied landscapes, each one belonging to its altitude gradient.

The Sierra Nevada is a large space with plenty of nature for adventure sports and routes to enjoy all year round.