The Albaicín neighborhood, declared a World Heritage Site since 1984 and the Sacromonte neighborhood, are two of the most colorful, charming and historical neighborhoods of the city of Granada.
The Albaicín
The Albaicín includes the entire hill in front of the Alhambra and maintains the essence of its Muslim past, when it housed a population of more than forty thousand inhabitants and thirty mosques.
To walk through the Albaicín is to stroll through the history of Granada. The neighborhood, with its labyrinthine streets, steep and cobbled streets and squares, shows a very unique architecture where the “cármenes” (houses with inner courtyard), Mudejar churches, “aljibes” (water tanks), and Moorish houses take center stage. In the Albaicín you will find many of the most beautiful and romantic corners of the city.
The most interesting and picturesque areas located in the lower part of the Albaicín are “Calle Elvira” and “Caldedería”, “Plaza Nueva”, “Carrera del Darro” and “Paseo de los Tristes”. From the “Paseo de los Tristes” begins the “Cuesta El Chapiz”, which gives access to the Sacromonte neighborhood.
You can not miss the upper part of the neighborhood, where the “San Nicolás” lookout overlooks the Alhambra to “Sierra Nevada” and the city, Plaza Larga, Plaza Aliatar or Plaza de San Miguel Bajo, between other corners.
It is also interesting to walk the streets of the entire middle area of the neighborhood. The whole town is full of surprises and charm.
There are agencies specialized in offering guided tours through the Albaicín neighborhood. It costs approximately € 15 per person (free for children under 12). More information at: granadadirect.com
The Sacromonte
The “Camino del Sacromonte” allows you to discover another of the most typical buildings in Granada, the caves, once inhabited by the gypsies of the neighborhood and now converted into flamenco tablaos, restaurants, discotheques and tourist accommodation, although still there are many in which people live.
How to get there:
Bus: Minibus C1 and C2
Car: Only traffic to residents, access to hotels and public transportation in this area is allowed.