Your trip to Granada

The Albaicin is a neighborhood located in the center of Granada, surrounded by the Sacromonte neighborhood and the Darro River and near the Alhambra and the Generalife. Its streets are sloped so you can distinguish the lower Albaicín and the upper Albaicín. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is the oldest district of Granada as it existed before the Alhambra was built. In the 11th century, the Ziri dynasty installed its royal palace here, surrounding it with multiple Islamic buildings and building the Great Mosque of the city. Of these buildings remains the Arab baths, known as the Bañuelo, and some Moorish houses, but the truth is that there were up to thirty mosques. The Albaicín was also the residence of the nobility of Granada who lived in beautiful palaces but, with the conquest of the Catholic Monarchs, the neighborhood was reassigned to remove the Arabs from the center of Granada, who were finally expelled. As a result, all those mosques were converted into churches and, in the 17th century, the Muslims abandoned the neighborhood.

In the Albaicín are located different places of interest such as the Bañuelos, the Casa Horno de Oro, the Paseo de los Tristes, the Casa del Chapiz, the Mirador de San Cristóbal, the Mirador de San Nicolás, the hermitage of San Miguel Alto and the Puerta de Elvira.

Sacromonte is a gypsy neighborhood in Granada with white caves and zambras where you can enjoy flamenco shows. Its white color in the middle of the hill attracts tourists from all over the world who come to soak up the atmosphere, and the flamenco culture and, some of them, even rent a cave as accommodation in the city. But there is no doubt that the Sacromonte neighborhood has changed a lot since it began to be populated in the 15th century when the Catholic Monarchs expelled the Muslims and Jews from the center of Granada. Thus, Jews and Muslims lived together in these natural caves and the gypsies arrived later, bringing with them the singing and dancing. So much so that Sacromonte is said to be the cradle of flamenco in Granada. Today, gypsies still live in Sacromonte although many of the caves have been converted into restaurants, bars and flamenco clubs (Tablaos) Here you can also find the Ethnographic Museum of Sacromonte, where you will discover more about the life of its inhabitants in the past decades. Not at all like today.

The monumental complex of the Alhambra includes the gardens of the Generalife, El Partal, the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of Carlos and the Alcazaba. The Generalife is located outside the walls of the Alhambra and consisted of a recreational estate of the Nasrid sultans that they also used for agricultural cultivation. The Generalife is made up of the Lower Gardens, the Generalife Palace, the Patio de la Sultana, the Water Staircase, made with canal-shaped tiles, and the Upper Gardens. 

El Partal is the terraced part of the monument and the one that has undergone the most modifications. This area includes the palace porch, the gardens, the Paseo de las Torres and the Palace of Yusuf III. 

The Nasrid Palaces are a palatine complex, each palace represents a sultan. In this complex are the Palacio de Comares and the Palacio de Los Leones with its famous patio.

Next to these palaces, is the Palacio de Carlos V. Its construction began in 1527 and was completed in its entirety in 1957. This palace, which the emperor ordered to be built to enjoy the Alhambra, has a square floor plan, is 63 meters wide and 17 meters high. What is most striking is its circular patio in the center of the building. 

The Alcazaba is the oldest part of the Alhambra, a fortress dating from the 9th century. This construction was a fortified enclosure that served as the governor's residence and to protect the Alhambra complex from enemy attacks. In this case, the Alcazaba of Granada that we appreciate today we owe to Mohamed I, although over the years it has undergone modifications, abandonment and changes of use, even being a state prison.

The Carrera del Darro is one of the most beautiful and emblematic walks in Granada. Located next to the Darro River, it runs between the Albaicín neighborhood and the Alhambra, connecting the Plaza Nueva with the Paseo de los Tristes. Walking along the Carrera del Darro you will see different stone bridges that cross the river and the Alhambra with its Torre de la Vela and the Torre del Cubo, the Torre de Comares and part of the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra. In addition, along this walk you will find a multitude of houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries and Nasrid houses.

The bañuelo is one of the best-preserved public Arab baths in Spain. Located in the lower Albaicin district of Granada, in the Carrera del Darro number 31. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, its original name was Hammam al-Yawza (bath of the Walnut tree). Its construction dates from the eleventh or twelfth century, the historians can't agree on which century it was built. What is clear is that it was during the Zirid period and that it was an authentic hammam where the ritual of physical and spiritual cleansing, typical of the Arab culture, was practiced. Its arches and the natural lighting that enters through the ceiling make it a very beautiful Arab bath that is well worth a visit.

The Plaza Nueva of Granada is the oldest square in the city. Below it flows the Darro River. This square is the heart of the city and a fantastic area for tapas. Here you can also find different bars and restaurants, especially in the streets of Elvira and Calle Calderería. In addition, from the Plaza Nueva, you can reach the main points of interest in Granada. On one side, you can access the Albaicin neighborhood through the Carrera del Darro and the Paseo de Los Tristes, reaching also the Alhambra. On the other side of the square, you reach the center of the city where the Cathedral of Granada and the Royal Chapel are located. In the Plaza Nueva, there are also several monuments such as the Royal Chancellery and the church of Santa Ana.

The Plaza of Isabel the Catholic queen is located in the center of Granada, between Gran Vía Colón and Reyes Católicos Street. It is distinguished by the monumental statue of Isabella I, Queen of Castile, next to Christopher Columbus. This statue represents the agreement between Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs to begin their expedition to the Indies, which would end with the discovery of America. This monument is the work of the Valencian artist Mariano Benllure and dates from 1892. From the Plaza Isabel la Católica you can see, in the background, the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites.

The Corral del Carbon is located in the Barrio del Realejo, in the city of Granada. Its name in Arabic was al-fundaq al-yadida, which means new corn exchange (Alhóndiga Nueva). Its construction dates from the first half of the 14th century and its purpose was to store, sell wheat and house the merchants who brought it to the city. In 1531, the alhóndiga became a corral for comedies, in the 17th century it was a corral for the neighbors, they stored their coal on the first floor. In 1887, the Corral del Carbón was declared a National Monument. Between 1929 and 1931, it was restored by Leopoldo Torres Balbas.  

This construction of Nasrid origin, stands out for its oriental style, with a single entrance formed by a sharp horseshoe arch and spandrels of atauriques carved in plaster. The facade of the Corral del Carbon is monumental and ornate, contrasting with its austere interior. Behind the portal, the hallway occupies the space of the first two floors with a beautiful muqarnas ceiling and two blind arches on each side. In the center of the alhóndiga, we find the courtyard with a square basin with two small water spouts. 

Its opening hours are from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm.

The Alcaicería is a network of streets in Granada characterized by its narrow streets full of little shops as if they were an Arab souk. It was founded in the 14th century, during the rule of Muhammad V, but a fire in the 19th century completely destroyed it and it had to be rebuilt. The bazaars of the Alcaicería offer Moroccan and Granadian handicrafts, as well as gifts, clothing and accessories. Strolling through its streets transports you to the time of the Nasrid Granada and is certainly one of the most visited neighborhoods of the city. Its privileged location extends along Reyes Católicos Street, the Cathedral of Granada and Gran Vía de Colón, near the Great Mosque and the Corral del Carbón ( former Alhóndiga of Granada), which turned the Alcaicería into an important commercial center. Its opening hours are from 10 am to 9 pm, plenty of time to visit.!

The Royal Chapel belongs to the monumental complex of the Cathedral of Granada. In it is the precious funerary monument of the Catholic Monarchs, the work of the Italian Domenico Fancelli, who built it in Genoa with Carrara marble. There are also the tombs of Juana la Loca and Felipe el Hermoso, the work of Bartolomé Ordóñez who also made the gate that encloses them. Inside the Royal Chapel there are also important works of sculpture, painting and goldsmithing, such as the mirror , the crown and scepter of Queen Isabella, and the sword and banners of crimson damask, of Ferdinand of Aragon. The most precious assets of the monarchs.

Calderería Street is located in the center of Granada, in lower Albaicín, and is made up of Calderería Nueva and Calderería Vieja. Even before the Christian reconquest, these streets were made up of guilds, where the caldereros, craftsmen who sold, repaired and manufactured cauldrons and copper objects, based themselves, hence its name Calderia street. It is full of small stores and Arab tea shops, retaining the appearance of a souk. In the Calderería you can buy everything from Fajalauza pottery, typical of Granada, to Moroccan handicrafts, and sit down for a Moorish tea with some of their Nasrid sweets.

The Cathedral of Granada or Holy and Apostolic Church Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation is one of the oldest in the Christian West and one of the first in the Iberian Peninsula. Construction began in 1506 on an old mosque after the conquest by the Catholic Monarchs and was completed in 1704. The temple is a true example of the Spanish Renaissance, although the foundations are Gothic and the façade is Baroque. It has fourteen chapels in addition to the Main Chapel dedicated to the Virgen del Pilar, Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, Nuestra Señora la Antigua, Santa Lucía, Cristo de las Penas, Santa Teresa, San Blas, San Cecilio, San Sebastián, San Miguel, Santa Ana, the Santísima Trinidad and, the most visited although it is accessed from outside the cathedral: the Royal Chapel, where the mortal remains of the Catholic Monarchs rest. In the sacristy, we find the Inmaculada, carved by Alonso Cano, and the Christ, the work of the García brothers. The Cathedral of Granada also stands out for its columns and white vaults.

The Gate or Arch of Elvira is located next to the Albaicin, in Granada. This gate was once part of the ancient Muslim walls of the city and owes its name to the ancient Medina of Elvira, access to which it gave. This door is framed in two periods of construction: the zirí time, in the XI century; and the nazarí, in the XIV century. This door has undergone modifications throughout the centuries leading to the current appearance in which the exterior horseshoe arch, the two towers that guard it and the battlements of the upper parts, where the parapet is located, are preserved. Quite an achievement since most of the Moorish gates of Granada have been lost over the ages. From the Puerta de Elvira, you can access the street of the same name that leads to the Plaza Nueva, the heart of the city of Granada.

The Mirador de San Cristóbal is a square in Granada that is located in the upper Albaicín, next to the church that gives it its name and the Puerta de Elvira, which allows you to enjoy spectacular views of the Alhambra, Sierra Nevada and downtown. This viewpoint is less known than the Mirador de San Nicolás but the truth is that its panoramic view, although different, is wonderful. From here you can also see the 11th century Zirid wall, the Palace of Dar al-Horra and the Cathedral of Granada.

The Mirador de la Placeta de los Carvajales is located in lower Albaicín in Granada, between the hill of San Gregorio and San Juan de los Reyes street, very close to Calderería street. In this viewpoint, there is a narrow rectangular pool that spans the square. It stands out for its panoramic views of the Alhambra of Granada and its pleasant atmosphere where friends, couples, musicians and flamenco singers meet. Although there are many viewpoints in Granada, the Mirador de Los Carvajales is one of the least crowded.

One of the most famous viewpoints in Granada for Spectacular sunsets is the Mirador de San Nicolas. It is located in the Albaicín neighborhood and has breathtaking views of the Alhambra from which you can clearly see the Generalife gardens, the Partal Tower, the Comares Tower, the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of Charles V and the Alcazaba. At its feet are the Darro River and the Paseo de Los Tristes. This viewpoint has a beautiful cobblestone pavement typical of Granada and stone benches where you can sit and enjoy the fantastic views. In addition, in the square is the church that gives it its name, and in the center, a stone cross.

The Horno de Oro house is a one-story Nasrid house to which a second floor was added in the sixteenth century. It is located in the city of Granada and its name comes from the fact that it is on Horno de Oro Street, which connects San Juan de los Reyes with the Paseo de los Tristes. The building revolves around its square courtyard, with a pool running through it, like most Muslim houses. For this reason, all the windows of the rooms overlook the inner courtyard. After the expulsion of the Arabs due to the conquest of the Catholic Monarchs, this house was a corral of neighbors until the 20th century, when the Horno de Oro house became the property of the state, who restored and preserved it for future generations to enjoy.

The Casa del Chapiz is a palace of Arab origin that, over the years has undergone several modifications, you will find Renaissance elements, Nasrid and Mudejar art. This house is located in the Albaicín neighborhood in Granada, on the Camino del Sacromonte and is reached by walking through the Paseo de Los Tristes along the Cuesta del Chapiz, which owes its name to the Moorish owner. The Chapiz house has an area of more than 6,000 m² divided into two floors. The first floor has a small well. Although it was initially thought to be a single house, the truth is that it turned out to be two different houses built at different times. In 1919, after passing through several owners and different uses, including an oven, the Casa del Chapiz passed into the hands of the State, which declared it a historic-artistic monument and is in charge of its preservation. Currently, the Casa del Chapiz houses the School of Arab Studies.

The monument can be visited from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm and from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm, except for special holidays.

The Paseo de Los Tristes actually has the official name of Paseo del Padre Manjon. It is located in the neighborhood of the Albaicín, in Granada. This walk is one of the most beautiful in the city as it is parallel to the Darro River and has fantastic views of the Alhambra in Granada. The Paseo de Los Tristes was built in 1609 and is only accessible by foot. In the center of the Paseo de Los Tristes is a fountain, probably the most photographed spot on the walk with the Alhambra in the background.