Carmen de los Mártires

This is a delightful park that is best accessed from Granada by ascending via Campo de Principe (Realejo) or is a 10 minute walk from the Alhambra.  It is a charming and peaceful park that you can stroll round to see views of the city and the Alhambra.  My personal preference though is to wander round the lake and see the ducks swimming around the grotto in the middle.    

In moorish times, military tournaments are likely to have taken place here.  A convent also used to exist on these grounds but this was destroyed in the 19th century.  You can however still see the convent garden. Follow @nwbridges78

Realejo

This is a quieter district than the Albaycin, but an interesting one that contains a number of historic monuments.  Realejo was once a thriving Jewish quarter of the city but during the reconquest of Granada in 1497, the Catholics expelled the Jews and transformed many parts of this district.  Realejo also offers a attractive route up to the Alhambra that provides panoramic views of the city and a direct route to the park known as Carmen de los Mártires.  This is a hidden gem in Granada that is often missed by visitors but is well worth a visit, particularly to escape the heat in summer. 

In addition, Realejo contains other attractions including the Casa de los Tiros, the historic Iglesia Santa Domingo and Plaza Mariana Pineda, where locals take coffee and relax on a bench under the watchful eye of Granada's favourite heroine.  These are all worth a visit. Follow @nwbridges78

Historic City Centre

The City Centre has many attractions that can take a number of days to fully explore.  For the last 600 years, the centre has been an important commercial and religious district to its inhabitants and now bustles with a large number of shops, cafes, churches and pretty squares.  The Cathedral is the central feature of this area and can be see from miles around.  Adjacent to this is the Real Capilla, the historic building that houses the mortal remains of the 16th century Catholic Monarchs Fernando and Isabel.  Around this area is the Alcaiceria, once a silk market, and now a place for purchasing tourist souvenirs.  Plaza Bib Rambla, around the corner, was once the heart of Moors public life and is a vibrant and enjoyable place to sit and relax. 

 

Other attractions worth exploring include the magnificent Monasterio de San Jerónimo, the Corral del Carbon and Plaza Trinidad.  It is also good to wander down from Plaza Nueva and go along the Reyes Catolicos to Puerta Real.  It can get very busy along this street though, particularly at weekends, so it is sometimes nice to explore the back streets just behind this road instead.  If you are feeling like a longer walk, the Carreta del Genil takes you to the river and a promenade that is nice to wander around and get views of the mountains and the higher Realejo district of the city. Follow @nwbridges78

Albaycin

The Albaycin is a delightful and picturesque district with a maze of winding pathways and white-walled gardens.  Often, visitors struggle to find their way up through this area as the routes can be confusing (not to mention steep!).  It is well worth the climb though as the Albaycin gets prettier the higher up you go and the vista from the Mirador San Nicholas is truly breathtaking.
 

View from Mirador San Nicholas

The Albaycin was declared a World Heritage site in 1994 and many parts of its old Moorish quarters are well preserved.  Amongst its many attractions are the bell tower at San Jose, the historic "mini-Alhambra" at the Dar Alhorra Palace and the multitude of lovely squares perfect for enjoying a coffee and watching the world go by.  Two particular squares you should not miss are Plaza Larga and Plaza de San Miguel.  As well as this, you can get fantastic views of the Alhambra and the city from its various miradors.  Mirador de Lona offers you views of the east part of the city whilst Mirador San Cristobal allows you to see interesting views of the Alcahaba, the old city walls and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

 

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Sacromonte

Sacromonte boasts some of the most magnificent views in Granada but is often neglected by visitors. In the past, many gypsies inhabited this area, living in small caves formed in the natural landscape.  As a result, this area tends to be synonomous with flamenco music and dancing.  Today, you can still see some of the cave dwellings, but by and large the area is made up of white, stone houses that balance precariously on the hilly terrain.  Because of the slopes and winding pathways, visitors are able to walk up through the main part of Sacromonte and discover panoramic views of the Alhambra, the surrounding valleys and Granada city below.  Arguably, the best views of Granada at sunset can be seen from the Abadía del Sacromonte.

Visitors should also make sure that they visit the Centre of Interpretation, Casa del Chapiz and the Palacio de los Cordova.

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Getting to Know Granada

Cloisters of the Monasterio de San Jeronimo

Granada is a colourful and vibrant city, rich in cultural heritage and steeped in history.  It lies between two rivers, with the splendid backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains visible from many different parts of the city.  On a clear day in January or February, you can marvel at the snow-capped mountains poking out from behind many of Granada's magnificent buildings.  The weather is also fantastic providing glorious sunshine most of the year and giving Granada a real outdoor vibe. 

To understand the layout of Granada, it is best to see it as four separate barrios (districts).  You can read about each of these on this blog by clicking below

Sacromonte
Albaycin
Realejo
Centre

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Take a look at Granada

Plaza San Miguel, Albaycin

Campo Principe, Realejo

Carmen de los Martires

                                     










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