Although the city of Granada has many interesting attractions to visit, if you have time we recommend that you rent a car or book a tour to see others places not to be missed in the province of Granada, from the mountainous Sierra Nevada to seaside resorts such as Almuñécar.
The mountain range of the Sierra Nevada, whitewashed all year round, it extends for about 75 kilometers from the province of Granada to the province of Almeria but all the highest peaks, such as Mulhacén which reaches 3480 meters above sea level, are located in the Grenadine part. Its landscape is dramatic, punctuated by torrential rivers, gorges, ravines, lakes and, at lower altitudes, the cultivated valleys of the Alpujarras, ideal for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
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The Alpujarras
Area The Alpujarras, a fantastic labyrinth of valleys that stretches for about 70 kilometers on the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada, is one of the most evocative places in Andalusia and of unspoiled natural beauty.
On the sides of the terraced hills there are numerous villages with white houses of Arab origin surrounded by woods full of streams. Recently some villages have been reached by mass tourism, especially British, but despite this, Las Alpujerras still remains a place where you can relax and disconnect from the hectic everyday life.
Stop in Lanjaron, a famous spa town, in Orgiva, the largest town in Las Alpujarras and discover the picturesque villages of Caratunas, Pampaneira, Bubin, Capileira, Pitres, Portugos, with its natural spring, and Trevelez, the highest town in the Spain. These unique villages have retained their traditional Berber architecture with clusters of gray-white terraced houses with flat clay roofs.
In the restaurants of the Alpujarras it is possible to taste the rich and tasty cuisine of ancient times. Trevelez is famous for its Serrano ham, excellent meat and trout from local streams. A distinctive alpujarreno dish consists of fried eggs, fried potatoes, ham, sausage and a piece of black pudding.
Located at a height of 700 meters above sea level, the town of orgiva is the main center of the Alpujarras, a series of valleys along the southern slope of the Sierra Nevada characterized by a singular and extremely fascinating landscape.
Celebrated in numerous literary works by English travel writers, the area has attracted a large international community over the years. Today Orgiva is the most bohemian of the Alpujarras, with quite a few inhabitants living in teepees just outside the center and a hippy market that attracts numerous visitors.
It is a lively place, full of bars with outdoor seating, suitable for those who want to see an alternative Andalusia; it is also a good base for fascinating hiking tours in the Alpujarras.
About 14 km from Orgiva rises Pampaneira, a charming village perched on the slopes of an impressive gorge, the Poqueira ravine.
Together with the nearby villages of Bubión and Capileira, it is one of the most tourist destinations in the area and it is not difficult to understand the reason for its success: Spanish and international tourists are enchanted by the spectacle of this cascade of white houses with flowered balconies crossed by winding streets. narrow streets.
Divided into the upper district and the lower district, the quaint town of Pampaneira is a good starting point for hiking in the Barranco but it is also the ideal place to buy textile handicraft products, to taste the Alpujarra wine typical of the area or to lazily sip a coffee sitting at an outdoor table.
Strolling through the narrow streets of the city pay attention to the splendid ones he asked in Mudejar style dating back to the XNUMXth century.
In the Orgiva gorge, perched on the slopes of the Barranco de Poqueira, are these two beautiful villages with their massive XNUMXth-century Mudejar churches and their silk workshops dating back to the Arab tradition. TO Bubion there is the Casa Alpujarrena folk art museum. The villages are located about 15 - 20 kilometers from Orgiva. Capileira it is the starting point for hiking along the many paths of the Barranco de Poqueira.
The municipality of La Taha is formed by the town of Pitres, which rises at 1245 meters above sea level, and by the villages of Mecina, Mecinilla, Fondales, Ferreirola and Atalbeitar which are located in the suggestive valley at its feet. This area is full of paths that cross magnificent woods, an appointment not to be missed for hikers.
Trevélez is a cheerful village that rises to 1476 meters high and is famous for being the home of the exquisite Serrano ham. On the streets of the village there are numerous ham and souvenir shops. East of Trevélez the landscape becomes more arid and tourism is less present and in the villages of Berchules, about 15 kilometers from Trevélez, and of Yegen, where the writer Gerald Brenan lived, there is an atmosphere out of time.
At 55 km from Granada is located Guadix, known as the city of underground houses: around 3000 inhabitants of Guadix, in fact, live in houses built inside caves. It is a common custom throughout the eastern part of the province of Granada, but in this pretty village off the beaten tourist track the number of small houses (cave-houses) is higher than elsewhere.
Inside are very modern houses, equipped with all comforts and perfect natural thermal and acoustic insulation. The most luxurious are elegantly furnished and even have an indoor swimming pool! The temperature inside the cave houses is constant between 19 and 22 degrees, without the need for heating in winter or air conditioning in summer.
If you want to live an unforgettable experience you can rent one for the night; if, on the other hand, you are just passing through, you can see a faithful reproduction of it inside the Cave Municipal Museum or have a drink inside a cave house converted into a bar.
They are also very beautiful there cathedral in sandstone of the sixteenth century and theAlcazaba, the Arab castle built between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, but after trying the coolness of the caves you probably won't be able to enjoy a cultural visit under the sun!
Around the sixteenth-century Castillo de San Miguel, which offers a wonderful view of the coast, rises Almuñécar, a pretty and ancient town.
Almuñécar, 80 kilometers from Granada, is considered one of the most attractive tourist resorts of the Costa Tropical. The city was founded in the XNUMXth century BC by the Romans but its name is due to the Arab domination. Two important Phoenician-Punic necropolis, a Roman aqueduct over 7 kilometers long, the watchtowers are just some of the riches of this unique town.
Near Playa de San Cristobal is the Loro-Sexi Ornithological Park and a short distance away is the small Arqueological Museum, set up in the Cueva de Siete Palacios, a complex of Roman galleries. In nearby La Herradura it is possible to practice windsurfing, diving, sailing, paragliding and horse riding.
Among the many events, the Festival of the Virgin of Antigua and its procession which takes place at night and arrives at the beach of Puerta del Mar and ends with an extraordinary fireworks display in the Santo Peñones.
Finally, the kitchen of Almuñécar it is based on ancient traditions, often of Arab origin. Biscuits with melon, pumpkin with sausage, grilled meats and mango tart are some of its typical dishes.
Perched on a cliff and at the foot of the great Castillo Arabe, a 105th-century building that rises XNUMX meters above sea level and which houses the Arqueological Museum, stands the white city of Salobrena, jewel of the Costa Tropical in the province of Granada.
Le winding flowery streets and the white houses make this tourist place very charming. For a little coolness and to let the children play peacefully, go to Parque de la Fuente.
Below the village there are numerous and popular ones dark sand beaches, full of restaurants and chiringuitos, small open-air bars. Along the coast you will notice the Penon, a massive rock that juts out into the sea and which over the centuries has been used as a prison and as a Christian burial place. Off this reef there is an artificial reef ideal for diving and snorkeling, ideal activities to be carried out also in the wonderful Caleton beach.
Just 45 minutes from Granada, Solebrena is an excellent starting point for discovering the Alpujarra, just over half an hour away, but also a lively place to stay: its cultural scene is dotted with concerts, plays, films, parties traditional and the Lucero del Alba flamenco festival.
La town of Baza it is located in the northern part of the province of Granada and is a real unspoiled architectural jewel. In fact, it preserves the original Muslim urban core consisting of the Medina, the Alcazaba and the Arab neighborhoods with narrow and winding streets. The church of Santiago in Mudejar style and the former collegiate church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, built on the ruins of a mosque, are very beautiful.
Baza is located at 844 meters above sea level and is dominated by a mountain that dominates the landscape. Just outside the town are the Iberian-Roman city of Basti, two necropolises, in that of Cerro del Santuario the famous Dama de Baza was found, and the Arab baths of Marzuela.
Peculiarities of the area le cave houses, dwellings carved into the rock inhabited since time immemorial and in recent years very popular with lovers of rural tourism.
To reach Baza take the A92 motorway or rely on the bus companies that connect it from the main cities of Andalusia.
