Try Grenadine cuisine at Damasqueros

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Since the last decade, Chef Lola has been the inspiration for Grenadine cuisine. Heading the Andalucian-inspired restaurant, Damasqueros, she is one of the chefs who has fought to find Granada a place among the culinary elite. Her passion, hard work, and humility show her love for the city. The restaurant features menus that continually adapt, offering seasonal products and mixing haute cuisine with the raw materials of the earth and the moment. The best part, however, is that Lola’s food is honest, and you will feel at home whenever you visit.

Have an enriching cultural experience at Centro de Documentación Musical de Andalucía

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Culture enthusiasts visiting Granada should check out Centro de Documentación Musical de Andalucía in Albaicín. There are places in Granada that often go unnoticed but deserve to be explored for their uniqueness, and this center is one of them. Housed in a building that probably dates back to the end of the 16th century, the center has beautiful glazed ceramic plinths. It was restored in the ‘90s by recovering its true appearance of painted Venetian brick. It’s one of the few, or perhaps the only, examples of the late Renaissance architecture in Spain.

Take a refreshing walk along Cuesta de Gomérez

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

This tree-lined avenue falls on my way back home from work, and I love the cool shade in these high temperatures. The groves of Gomérez are the lungs of the center of Granada. Its existence dates back to reforestation in the Christian times. You can find a variety of trees in the area, such as Almez (the most common tree in Islamic times), chestnut, elm, London plane, laurel, tilapia, maple, and fresh berries.

Surround yourself in the greenery of Carmen de la Victoria

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Did you know that Granada has several carmens (gardens)? You can visit Carmen de la Victoria, which can be seen as an example of what we understand as a typical carmen in the Albaicín. But, it’s not like Carmen de los Mártires. Do you know how these gardens came into existence? The depopulation of Granada after the War of the Alpujarras and subsequent repopulation generated these large properties of orchards at the beginning of self-sufficiency, which later evolved into diverse gardens. If you want to understand this better, I recommend the book “El Carmen de la Victoria” by José Titos. It dismantles myths and brings a real vision of the history of the Granada garden.

Get enchanted with Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

The Realejo-San Matias neighborhood has an architectural jewel loaded with symbology. It’s called Carmen Rodríguez Acosta, also known as Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta, which boasts elements of the Modern Movement. Interestingly, the design of this place was inspired by the painting, “Isle of the Dead.” Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta not only catches your attention but also enjoys more symbolism than Alhambra. Here, you’ll get to see the sources that play the duality of the masculine and the feminine while a voyeur watches the naked goddess. It all happens here, and hence it’s my favorite place in Granada after Alhambra.

Enjoy the sunset at Paseo Fuente de la Bicha

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

The beautiful Paseo Fuente de la Bicha or La Bicha is a favorite route among Granadians. It’s at the foot of Cerro de la Culebra and was used for raising birds that fed the Royal House during the Nazarene era. This route had a connection with The Palacio de los Alixares itself and was also a water carrier route for some time. These days, you can view breathtaking sunsets from here.

Explore the historic neighborhood of Albaicín

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Albaicín always greets you with the whitewashed houses and cobbled streets that contrast the flowered balconies. You’ll find alleys where the jasmine in the gardens makes you turn your head, and you can appreciate the beauty of these places through the small open peepholes in the wooden doors. The lower part of the Albaicín was the neighborhood of the nobility in Muslim times, and you can still find some of them, such as Horno de Oro or Zafra.

One of the most interesting Moorish homes in Albaicín is Casa del Chapiz. It belonged to a new Christian, Lorenzo “el chapiz.” Here, you can appreciate the cultural and architectural change that the city underwent after the Moorish Rebellion and witness two worlds and cultures in the same place. The number one use of water for architecture is to mirror the simplicity of forms, which you can find in the small courtyard of the Arrayanes.

Another building that is lost in the middle of Albaicín is Casa Horno del Oro. It’s a small Moorish structure that represents the domestic architecture of the area in Muslim Granada, but has adapted. Its second-floor open ambulatory, which serves as a gallery, is typical of more Western architecture. Apart from this, Puerta de Fajalauza gave access to the upper Albaicín, and some episodes occurred in this area that changed the history of Granada. These include the recovery of the throne by Boabdil and the beginning of the Moorish uprising that followed the Alpujarras War.

Another interesting place here is Placeta del Cobertizo, in the lower Albayzín area, named after one of the most common structures of Islamic urban planning, the shed. They are covered walkways within public roads that are common in Albaicín, especially in the Alpujarras. Sometimes, it’s thought that the streets in Arab urban planning are labyrinthine and unplanned, while the Christian streets are the opposite. In reality, it has much more to do with Islamic law and the sense of private property and buying and selling. When it comes to selling your property, the relatives, followed by the neighbors and the members of your guild, get the opportunity to buy first. Separate Albaicín houses remained, which were owned by a single family who built these sheds to connect them without having to go out onto the public road. As a result, we have the present-day Albaicín: winding streets due to moving facades, closed squares, dead-end alleys, and covered passageways, giving rise to beautiful and private squares.

Another popular place here is Plaza Larga, located in the heart of the Albaicín. It has emblematic establishments such as Casa Pasteles (1928). Its original name, La Estrella, was changed because the people of Granada always said, “Where are the pasties?” You can also see Bab-al-Ziyada Ensanche Gate, which connects Albayzín and Alcazaba Vieja. This gate is commonly called the “door of the weights” since tricked weights were hung above it, which belonged to swindler merchants who wanted to deceive the customer when they weighed the product.

Admire street murals through a discreet peephole

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Did you know about the hidden facilities around Granada? Julio Anaya has hidden a mural version of “El embovedado” by López Mezquita. On a street in the Virgen neighborhood, an indiscreet peephole invites passersby to find this art. All you need to do is explore and be aware of your surroundings. If you like mindfulness, which the Sufists of Muslim Granada already discovered, put it into practice around the city. The here and now can lead you to find a museum on your street.

Spend a few moments at Paseo de los Tristes

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

The real name of Paseo de los Tristes is Padre Manjón or Puerta de Guadix, because it provided access to the city of Granada in Muslim times. Its name, Tristes, was given because it was the route to the San José cemetery, and people gathered in the square to pay their last respects to the deceased before starting the slope. In those times, some women were professional mourners. They dressed in black and appeared pale and sorrowful, patiently awaiting to be hired. They usually joined small families who could feel lonely in the environment. What a curious and spiritual job to professionally accompany them to cry for their deceased.

Admire the illustrious sculpture at Avenida de la Constitución

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

One of the famous streets of Granada is Avenida de la Constitución, which is still called by its previous name, Calvo Sotelo, by many. It’s located in the area of San Lázaro, which was the military camp of the Catholic Monarchs. In fact, during the excavations of a parking lot, the remains of what could have been the first bullring in the city were found. Now, the avenue is decorated with illustrious figures of the city. Here, we can also see San Juan De la Cruz, who is not only the best song by Los Planetas, at least for me, but also the most important mystical poet in our history along with Saint Teresa of Jesus, and who was earlier in Granada for several years.

Catch up on the history of Parroquia San Gregorio Bético

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Parroquia San Gregorio Bético has its origins in a 16th-century hermitage where it was ordered to be built by the Catholic Monarchs. It’s held in honor of two monks, who preached at the door of Alhambra’s mosque. They were martyred for it, tied to horses’ tails and dragged to the dungeons. But more interesting is its change of use throughout history. It was a church, as we have seen, but it also functioned as a prison, a wine warehouse, a coal warehouse, a dance hall, and a brothel.

It’s located in the heart of Granada, and many people pass by it, but you can visit it. Its cloistered congregation has a tradition of praying at the altar all day and all year long. In addition, the convent has a very curious history of different uses in the past.

Spend a moment to admire the beautiful landscapes of Vega de Granada

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Vega de Granada is a region that is made up of more than 40 municipalities. This plain was and is the lung of Granada, in addition to the city’s orchard in Muslim times. Despite modernization and changes, some parts of the region continue to rely on and preserve traditional agricultural techniques and practices. La Vega is unique, with a varied and diverse heritage, but it continues to disappear due to urban development.

Capture panoramic views of Granada from Mirador del Torreon

Contributed by Tour Guide, Asier Garmendia

Mirador del Torreon is not at all touristy, but this small brick gazebo in the shape of a minaret has survived the creation of the Cartuja University campus. It belonged to a Jesuit complex and was used as an observatory. This congregation has ancient roots in Granada until 1767. Its academic activity resumed in 1894. They mainly focused on the study of seismology and astronomy. They were elite astronomers, so much so that the craters on the moon were named after important Jesuit astronomers.