In Granada, there are 3 important areas to visit if you want to go sightseeing. In this article I am going to show you what you can see and do in these areas. We will talk about the Albaicín neighbourhood, the Realejo neighbourhood and finally the Sacromonte neighbourhood, which are the 3 most important neighbourhoods in Granada for tourism.
Albaicín
First of all, it is important to point out that this is the oldest part of the city. It was built by the Arabs and is located at the foot of the famous Alhambra. As the city was later reconquered by the Catholic kings, this area is a mixture of Moorish and Renaissance architecture. Most of the mosques built by the Arabs were later transformed into Catholic churches. This is the case of the church of El Salvador, the church of San Cristobal and the church of San Juan de los Reyes. Among the architecture of the Nasrid period are the Alhacaba towers, the Ziri wall and the Dar al-Horra palace.
The Albaicín is a very atmospheric neighbourhood: it’s great for strolling around, you feel like you’re in a city from another era! It was even named a World Heritage Site in 1984, along with the Alhambra. If you go to Granada, this area is a must.
Realejo
El Realejo is the most famous quarter of Granada for its gastronomy. It is also a neighbourhood with Jewish roots. Because of its gastronomic side, it is a very lively and cheerful area of Malaga throughout the year. The upper part of the district is characterised by its steep slopes and narrow streets. One of the most important attractions of this neighbourhood is the Campo del Príncipe, which is located in the old Muslim cemetery. This square was built in 1497 to celebrate the wedding of one of the princes of the Spanish kingdom.
There is also a tradition every “Viernes Santo” when thousands of people flock to the place called the Christ of Favours to make 3 wishes to this statue. This tradition is historical and is still celebrated every year.
Sacromonte
This was the gypsy quarter of the city at that time. The curious thing is that the gypsies used to carve cave-houses in the rock and live in them. Nowadays most of these houses are no longer inhabited, but are used as bars or as venues for flamenco shows. For many, Sacromonte is also the ideal place to learn about the history of Granada, as it is considered the cultural quarter of the city. There is a museum about the aforementioned cave houses that shows us how these houses were built and what they were like centuries ago.
Moreover, from this area you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views, as it is located in the hills, the only place where gypsies and bohemians were allowed to settle, so it is not very close to the city centre.
Finally, Granada has many cultural monuments that are worth visiting. There remains the Granada neighbourhood of La Chana which is especially known as the best neighbourhood to go for tapas and the Zaidín neighbourhood which is considered the scientific neighbourhood of the city, as most of the research centres are located in this neighbourhood.
I hope I have inspired you to discover the different areas of Granada, each of which has its own specialities.