Table Of ContentIndex
4
Weekend Granada in Ancient Times
Back to the Neolithic
COUNTRY BREAK Lagoons with a Thousand-Year history
The Sierra Martilla Dolmens
Iberian Splendour
TURISMO DE GRANADA A Cradle of Cultures
PATRONATO PROVINCIAL The Phoenician Legacy
•
The Cave of the Bats
Plaza Mariana Pineda, 10, 2ª
18009 - Granada Sexiand its Prized Garum
•
Teléfonos: 958/ 24 71 46 8
Fax: 958/ 24 71 29 Moorish Granada
• The Alhambra, a World
e-mail: [email protected] CITY BREAK Heritage Site
www.turismodegranada.org
The Islamic Madraza
www.turgranada.com
• The House of Lorenzo el Chapiz
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE The Walled Medina
Teléfono: 958/ 24 71 28 The Moorish Trade Exchange
Fax: 958/ 24 71 27 For Princess Aixa
e-mail: [email protected]
A Celebration of the Senses
Health meets History
The Watchtowers on the Plain
Drinking up the Darro
A Persian Palace on the River Genil
Babbling Water
COUNTRY BREAK Granada’s Watchful Eye
The Alcazaba of the Omeys
The Heights of Lanjarón
Guadix Alcazaba
The Watchtower of the Tropics
d
The Unassailable Fortress
l From San Cristóbal Hill
r The Lookout of the Moors
o La Rábita and its Castle
Europa The Fountains of Loja
w The Hammansof Al-Jatib
España The Baths in the Jewish Quarter
e 22
Christian Granada
h
Andalucía The Pantheon of the Catholic Kings
t CITY BREAK In honour of the Gran Capitán
Mudejar Imagery
n Granada On the Site of the Great Mosque
The Legacy of Charles V
i Baza - Huéscar: A Library of Treasures
El Altiplano A Baroque Jewel
a
Siloé’s Masterpiece
d Guadix y Granada’s Basilica
Marquesado The Centre of Power
a Poniente Granada Urban Majesty
n Granadino Sierra
Nevada COUNTRY BREAK The Triumph of Faith
a The Cathedral Church of the
Alpujarra
r Valle de Lecrín Bastetanians
Neo-Classical Brilliance
G Costa Tropical Renaissance Elegance
A Blend of Styles
The Pink Palace
The Plain Style of the Peñaflors
Catalan Modernism
©Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada
Design and Production: www.edantur.com The Fort of the Christian Governors 1
32
Cultural Granada Romantic Travellers
Vestiges of Garnata From Bloomsbury to Yegen
CITY BREAK The Finest Arts
Treasures of the Nasrids 58
The Casa de los Tiros The Flavours of Granada
Avant-Garde Art Tapa-Sampling in Granada
In the Palace of the Pisas CITY BREAK Moorish Tea-Houses
Heroes and Villains Convent Sweets
Abracadabra A World of Gourmet Cuisine
Culture in the Street
Flamenco Encounters COUNTRY BREAK Traditional Cooking
On the Jazz Beat Caviar from El Poniente
Silence, We’re Shooting! Quality Wines
Sensual Argentina Our Exotic Coast
64
COUNTRY BREAK The Potter’s Tradition Shopping
The Goddess of Galera The Silk Market
A Cult to Sugar CITY BREAK A Shopping Day
The Cave of the Seven Palaces The Latest Leisure Centres
The Warrior’s Home
The Secrets of the Mountain COUNTRY BREAK The Luthiers
Prehistoric Orce Accitan Pottery
Cultural Exchange Jarapa Rugs from the Alpujarras
Jazz on the Coast
The Trovo Singers 68
Health and Leisure
The Chords of a Guitar
Healthy Granada
The Roots of Music COUNTRY BREAK
Classical Airs
44 70
Following the Steps of Lorca Out on the town
The Poet’s Summer Residence Flamenco Moon
CITY BREAK CITY BREAK Downtown Drinks
COUNTRY BREAK The Birth of a Poet Bohemian Nights
The Poet and his Family
The Earth Pays Homage 72
Granada’s Nature
46 Sea and Sierra
For the Kids COUNTRY BREAK The Breathtaking Badlands
Science for All Granada’s Green Space
CITY BREAK Camera Obscura The Sierra of Castril
An Afternoon at the Bowling Alley The Heart of the Tableland
Interpreting Sacromonte The Sierra of La Sagra
The Cahorros of Monachil
COUNTRY BREAK A Garden on the Coast The Infiernos of Loja
Parrots and Ostriches The Escarpments of Alhama
A Cooling Dip Carchuna Beach
On Ice The Rocks of San Cristóbal
Giant Redwoods at La Losa
50
Romantic Granada
78
Oriental Dreams Active Granada
CITY BREAK Hidden Paradises A Snow-Capped Sanctuary
The Paseo de los Tristes COUNTRY BREAK Underwater World
Artists’ Inspiration On the crest of the wave
The Colours of Bib-Rambla Long-distance Skiing
Touching the Sky Out to sea
The Magic of Sacromonte A day’s Fishing
Long Distance Footpaths
COUNTRY BREAK The Cave House Tradition The Estrella Route
The Charm of Simplicity A Bird’s Eye View
Boabdil’s Farewell Climbing in the Sierra Nevada
The Route of the Snow-Bearers The Centre of the Earth
The Paseo de las Flores Pump your Adrenaline
A Sea of Clouds Practice your swing
2 3
Granada in Ancient Times
Back to the Neolithic D-7 The Sierra Martilla Dolmens E-1
COUNTRY BREAK COUNTRY BREAK
out of the hillsides and wors-
hipped the gods of life and
death, resurrection and ferti-
lity. Their dead were buried in
characteristic constructions
named dolmens, and 198 of
THE GORAFE DOLMENS. these still remain today in the
At the beginning of the locality of Gorafe, the grea-
fifth millennium, numerous test concentration of burial
Neolithic populations
SIERRA MARTILLA DOLMENS. The Megalithic
settled in the natural
remains of a settlement and necropolis in the Sierra
valley of the Gor river,
Martilla near the town of Lojaare an excellent refe-
which in Prehistoric
times was the border rence point for discovering the archaeological heri-
between the Levan- tage of the province of Granada.
tine tribal groups and The site is an extremely significant
those of Lower Anda- one, containing a dozen dolmens
lucia. These Mega- from the Copper Agewith one or
lithic settlers formed a several burial chambers half-dug
complex, hierarchic
into the rock. There are also burial
society. They lived in
grounds from the High Mediaeval
dwellings hollowed
mounds of this type in the era and a Moorish watchtower.
whole of the Iberian Penin- Tourist Information Office of Loja
sula and most of Europe. This
958 323 949
is a journey back to antiquity
definitely not to be missed.
Iberian Splendour
D-8
City Council of Gorafe
COUNTRY BREAK
958 693 159
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
Lagoons with a Thousand-Year history REMAINS AT BASTI. In
D-5 around the 6th century,
the Iberians chose the
COUNTRY BREAK
Cepero Hill, where the
present-day town of
VENTANAS CAVE. Declared
Bazais located, to found
a Natural Monument of
what was to become
Andalusia, the Ventanas Ca-
one of the most impor-
ve at Píñaroffers an extrava-
tant fortified towns or
ganza of shadows and light
“oppida” in the whole Tourist Information Office of Baza
and is one of the most interes-
of South-Eastern 958 861 325
ting places where we can find
Iberia: Basti. Its
out how our Prehistoric ances- City Council of Píñar
two necropolis, the Santuario Hill and the
tors used to live, with lifelike 958 394 613
Largo Hill, give us an idea of the town’s splen-
recreations installed along the www.cuevalasventanas.com dour. Funerary offerings and extremely valuable
whole of the route. Impressive
works of art have been discovered here such as
stalagmites, stalactites and gullies bored into the rock by the
the Lady of Bazaand the Warrior, urn-statues
water can be observed in the Piletas and Columnas Rooms
used by the inhabitants of Basti to contain the
and in the Gran Simaor Great Chasm, a well of over 20 metres
ashes of their higher-ranking dead. Roman and
deep giving access to theTesoro Room.
Mediaeval remains have also been found on
excavation of this site, declared to be a Site
of Cultural Interest.
4 5
Granada in Ancient Times
A Cradle of Cultures The Cave of the Bats
E-2 H-6
COUNTRY BREAK COUNTRY BREAK
PEÑA DE LOS GITANOS. The impressive natural outcrop of the
Peña de los Gitanos, in Montefrío, is set on a high rocky bluff
with terraces and oak woods, and contains one of the most inte-
resting archaeological sites in the Poniente Granadino. This was
an ideal habitat for Neolithic settlers due to its fertile land and
abundance of wild animals, and almost a hundred Megalithic
tombscan be observed here, with dolmens of up to 8 metres in
length forming part of three necropolis: those of Castellón, La
Camarilla and El Rodeo. There are also
numerous caves where flint arrowhe-
ads, bone combs and copper idols
have been found together with cave
paintings. It has been declared a Site
of Cultural Interest.
CAVE OF THE City Council of Albuñol
Tourist Information Office of Montefrío BATS. Extremely 958 826 528
958 336 004 important archaeo-
logical remains have been discovered on the site of
this prehistoric settlement, located on the western
wall of the Angosturas Ravine in Albuñol and
dating from the era of transition between the
Neolithic and the Metal Age. The distinctive tempe-
ratures and geological conditions inside the cave
have allowed the conservation of extremely valua-
ble remains such as vessels, cooking pots, arrowhe-
ads and knives, in addition to a magnificent speci-
men of woven plant craftwork (esparto grass
shoes and clothing) discovered in the underground
burial chambers. The cave is open to visitors.
Sexi and its Prized Garum H-3
The Phoenician Legacy
H-3
COUNTRY BREAK
COUNTRY BREAK
EL MAJUELO FISH-SALTING FAC-
TORY. Evidence has been discovered
THE PUENTE DE NOY
here of the work carried out at what
NECROPOLIS. This impres-
was the fish-salting factory of the
sive necropolis was used
Roman city of Sexi, dating as far back
up until Roman times,
as the 4th century B.C., although it
and was a burial ground
reached its apogee in the 1st and 2nd
from the 7th to the 1st
centuries A.D.The much-appreciated
centuries B.C. It is located
garum, a paste or sauce made from
in the natural area of
fermented fish entrails, was produced
Puente de Noy, from which
here and exported to the whole of the
it takes its name. Almost
Roman Empire. Today part of the ancient factory is buried beneath
200 tombs with funerary
the El Majuelo Botanical and Archaeological Park, but a large
offerings have been found
extension of the salting
Tourist Information Office of Almuñécar during the different exca- basins and structures exca- Tourist Information Office of Almuñécar
958 631 125 vations made here. vated in the 1970´s and 80´s 958 631 125
can be observed.
6 7
Moorish Granada
The Alhambra, a World Heritage Site F-4
CITY BREAK
LA ALHAMBRA.Erected by the Lionsand its famous patio. The
prestigious architects of the time route around the Alhambra, one
on the hill of Sabika, majestically of Spain’s most visited monu-
overlooking the Darro Valley, this ments, is completed by a stroll
regal, unassailable citadel with its through different rooms such as
Oriental architecture has gone the Hall of the Two Sisters, the
down in history as the maximum Hall of the Abencerrajesor the
symbol of the splendour achieved Hall of the Kings, decorated
by Granada under the Nasrid with beautiful plasterwork, and
dynasty. Built between the 13th contemplation of the Alcazaba
and 15th centuries, it contains with its towers and the aljibes or
all aspects of the art of the Moorish Baths. Outside the
Moorish era in Spain and is an wall which encloses it is the
artistic legacy of incalculable Generalife, which with its mag-
value, declared a World Heritage nificent gardens was the summer
Site by UNESCO. palace of the Sultans.
Beautiful patios and fountains
enveloped by exuberant gardens
lead the visitor to the sumptuous
Moorish Palaces such as that of
Comares, inside which are the
Patio of the Myrtles and the
Hall of the Ambassadors with
its magnificent carved wood Alhambra de Granada
dome, and the Palace of the 902 441 221
8 9
Moorish Granada
The Islamic Madraza F-4 F-4 The Walled Medina
CITY BREAK CITY BREAK
PALACE OF THE MADRAZA. Built under
CITY WALLS AND GATES. The
the reign of Yusuf I in the 14th century,
walls encircling Mediaeval Granada
this ancient Islamic University of higher
fulfilled a dual function – they
Koranic studies where Theology, Jurispru-
defended it against enemy attack
dence and Philosophy were taught enjo-
and marked out its limits against
yed great fame and prestige in the West.
the surrounding plain. The first
After housing the City Hall for some time,
walls were built with this purpose
the building later became a fabric ware-
by the Ziritesin the 11th century,
house, but it is now a university once
and some remains of this primitive
more. It possesses a harmonious combina-
construction are still visible together
tion of architectural styles as can be seen from its Baroque faça-
with later additions in the Albaicín,
de, theIslamic oratory and the beautiful Mudejar coffered cei-
beside the Cuesta de la Alhacaba.
lingin the Hall of the Caballeros
Oficios, 14
(Knights) Veinticuatro.
958 243 484 The city gatesintersper-
sed around the walls
were a hive of activity,
with trade and market
transactions taking place
in the lively, bustling
medina. The main Gate
of Elvirastill stands in all
its splendour today, as
does the Gate of
Monaita.
The House of Lorenzo el Chapiz
F-4
CITY BREAK
HOUSE OF EL CHAPIZ.
Home to the School of
Arabic Studiessince 1932,
this Mudejar monument is
named after its owners, the
Moorish lords Lorenzo el
Chapiz and Hernán López El
Ferí. Plasterwork, pools, por-
ticoed galleries and huge
marble columns grace this
building which may origi-
nally have formed part of
the Islamic Palaceof Dar al-
Cuesta del Chapiz, 22
Bayda, “the white house”.
958 222 290
10 11
Moorish Granada
The Moorish Trade Exchange F-4 F-4 Health meets History
CITY BREAK CITY BREAK
CORRAL DEL CARBÓN. This was THE ALJIBE ARABIC BATHS.
the corn exchange in Moorish Located in the historic Aljibe
timesand served merchants as a or pool of San Miguel,
goods warehouse and lodging these baths recover a thou-
house. It is the only building of sand-year old tradition in the
this type in Spain to be totally pre- city of the Alhambra, inheri-
served today, meriting its declara- ted by the Moors from the
tion as a Monument of Cultural Romans with their famous
Interest. Under Christian domi- spas or hot baths.
nation it was used as a coal ware-
house and a theatre.
Inside the baths there are six
Calle Mariana Pineda
warm water poolsand one
cold water pool, and massa-
ge and aromatherapy are
For Princess Aixa
F-4 also on offer.
CITY BREAK
San Miguel Alta, 41
PALACE OF DAR AL-HORRA. In the Plaza de San Miguel
958 522 867
Bajo, in the heart of the Albaicín quarter, stands the last dwe-
lling place of the mother of the Moorish king Boabil, a superb
mansion house constructed in the
15th centuryon the foundations of The Watchtowers on the Plain F-4
the demolished palace of the Zirite
CITY BREAK
monarchs. Declared a Monument
of Cultural Interest, its many THE TORRES BERMEJAS. Built on the southernmost
rooms and lush gardens later beca- edge of the Cerro de los Mártires hill in the Realejo
me home to another ruler, the quarter, these originally formed part of a chain of watch-
Christian queen Isabel the Catholic. towers located at strategic points around the Plain of
Granada and used for watching out for enemy attack and
Callejón de las Monjas, s/n protecting the city. A rampart of the citywall branches
off from these towers and leads directly to the Alcazaba
of the Alhambra.
A Celebration of the Senses F-4
CITY BREAK
HAMMAN. These Moorish
Baths, right in the centre of
Granada, provide visitors with
an opportunity to indulge in
the pleasures of the
Hammams, important Anda-
lusí meeting places and leisure
establishments. The decora-
tion of the Moorish bathhou-
ses and the structure of their
rooms has been faithfully
reproduced. After a relaxing
bath, aromatic brews can be
sampled in the Moorish tea Santa Ana, 16
roomwhile enjoying a show 958 229 978
of typical belly-dancing.
12 13
Moorish Granada
Drinking up the Darro A Persian Palace on the River Genil
F-4 F-4
CITY BREAK CITY BREAK
EL BAÑUELO. The Moorish THE GENIL ALCÁZAR. The resi-
bathhouse named the No- dence of the Sultans of North
gal - walnut tree - or Bañue- Africa, this 13th century Nasrid
lo (Hamman al-Yawza, in almunia or leisure house belon-
Arabic) was commissioned ged to the mother of King Boabdil
to be built beside the and was built on the plain of the
Bridge of Cadí by the River Genil in the style of the
Jewish vizier Ibn Nagrela Persian palaces. Surrounded by
during the reign of the Taifa beautiful gardens and fountains, it
king Badis in the 11th cen- had a large pool where residents
tury. It is one of the best and guests staged mock battles
examples of Arabic Baths in and naval games. Of the original building only the central pavilion is
the whole of Spain and is still preserved, with remains of plasterwork and interlaced wood
also one of the most designs, as the side buildings and
Rey Abú Said, s/n
ancient vestiges of Moorish the portico are extensions made to
958 130 018
Granada, several centuries the building in the 19th century.
older than the Alhambra.
The Baths have been beau-
tifully restored, giving Babbling Water F-4
today’s visitors an insight
CITY BREAK
into how life must have
ALJIBES OF GRANADA. The bub-
been in what were major centres for socialising in the Andalusí
bling sound of water which charac-
period. The original columns and capitals, marble floorsand
terises Granada, bringing to mind
remains of Moorish paintwork on the skirting boardsgive way
echoes of the Nasrid kingdom, is
to luminous domes pierced by skylights made up of tiny stars
reflected in the numerous Moorish
which were the ventilation system for the original baths. The
baths that have been preserved.
layout of the building in Roman times is faithfully reproduced, with
These were utilitarian in character
an entrance patio containing a small pool, a vestibule, refreshment
and were sometimes located in the
room, central room, hot room and heating area. The Baths have
patios of the Mosquesfor ablu-
been declared a Monument of
tion before prayer, while others
Cultural Interest. Carrera del Darro, 31
channelled water to the houses
958 027 800
and stood in the squaresor beside
the gates in the city walls.
The 28 Aljibes or Bathhouses
which remain from the mediaeval
Elvira, in the Albaicín and Realejo
quarters, inside the Alhambraor in
the city centre, are defini-
tely the most valuable of all
those to have been discove-
red in the historic cities of Al-
Andalus. Some of these
baths, such as the Aljibe
del Peso de la Harina or
the Bathhouse located in
the Plaza del Abad, are still
in use today.
14 15
Moorish Granada
E-2 Granada’s Watchful Eye E-6 Guadix Alcazaba
COUNTRY BREAK COUNTRY BREAK
ÍLLORA CASTLE. Located on a GUADIX ALCAZABA. This majestic 11th centuryfor-
huge crag overlooking the town, tress stands to the south of the city; it dates back to
tradition has it that the Palace of Roman times but was restructured by the Moors. In
addition to using it as a palace, the Moors also insta-
the Gran Capitánstood opposi-
lled their military garrison in its circle of towers and
te the main entrance to this
ramparts and connected it to a much larger system of
Moorish castle, of whose door defence, the wall enclosing the whole of the medina.
only two Doric columns of the The views of the Cave Quarter to be had from its
lower part remain. Its watchto- turrets are spectacular.
Tourist Information Office of Guadix
wers formed part of a long chain City Council of Íllora
958 662 665
958 463 011
of defence and communications
fortresses, together with the castles of Moclín, Alcalá la Real
and Granada.
The Alcazaba of the Omeys
F-1
COUNTRY BREAK
THE ALCAZABA OF LOJA. A military and
administrative centre in the Mediaeval town,
the Alcazaba reached its greatest splendour
under the dominion of the Omeys, later under-
going numerous modifications to its structure.
Various spaces can be admired within the area
of the Alcazaba today: the 12th – 14th century
city walls, with turrets and gates such as the The Watchtower of the Tropics
H-4
Gate of Jaufín; the Moorish Baths, the main Keep(9th – 14th cen-
tury) which is the only vestige of what must have been a military resi- COUNTRY BREAK
dence with a monumental access door
Tourist Information Office of Loja
and a dome held up by four horns, and
958 323 949
theFort of the Christian Governors.
The Heights of Lanjarón
G-5
COUNTRY BREAK
LANJARÓN CASTLE. High on a hill
overlooking the village of Lanjarón
stand the remains of the Almoravid
castle, a stonework and rammed SALOBREÑA CASTLE. Looking down on the town
earth construction which was the main from its high hill, this fortress dates from the 10th
military bastion in the Alpujarra moun- centuryand is a perfect combination of Nasrid and
tains. It is the finest existing example of Christian architecture. Its surrounding walls and
the importance acquired by this village, some of its towersare well-conserved, and there is a
of Arabic and Berber origin, in the splendid view from the Torre del Homenaje, where
times of Al-Andalus. the blue of the ocean can be seen to merge with the
sky and the green of the
Tourist Information Office
Tourist Information Office of Lanjarón plain below the snow-cap-
of Salobreña
958 770 462 ped summits of the Sierra
958 610 314
Nevada in wintertime.
16 17
