White villages · Alhama

Alhama de Granada

Alhama de Granada is a white town on the lip of the Río Alhama gorge, a Nasrid stronghold whose capture by Castile in 1482 began the war for Granada; its old town is a Conjunto Histórico.

About Alhama de Granada

Alhama de Granada stands at 878 metres on the rim of the Tajos, the gorge of the Río Alhama. Its Arabic name refers to hot springs used since Roman times. A rich Nasrid town, it fell to Castile on 28 February 1482, the start of the war for Granada, mourned in the ballad 'Ay de mi Alhama'. The old town is a Conjunto Histórico; about 5,500 people live in the municipality.

The Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación, begun in 1505 on the site of the main mosque, has a portal attributed to Enrique Egas. Behind the Iglesia del Carmen a viewpoint overlooks the Tajos. Look for the Casa de la Inquisición, the Caño Wamba fountain of 1533 and Plaza de los Presos, with the old prison, now an interpretation centre. Nasrid dungeons are shown on guided tours.

Granada is 50 minutes away by car via the A-92 and A-402; Málaga is 1 hour 15 minutes via Zafarraya. Alsa buses link the town with Granada. Park around Plaza de la Constitución. Lanes are uneven but the sights are close together. Guided walks, about €3, leave the tourist office at 12:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Allow half a day, more with the gorge walk. It suits history lovers and walkers.

Spring and autumn are best. The masked carnival is a Fiesta de Interés Turístico de Andalucía, followed by Candelaria bonfires on 2 February and the Feria Grande around 8 September. Try choto al ajillo and olla jameña. Free hot pools in the river below the spa are quietest early in the morning.

Alhama de Granada in pictures

Sandstone Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación and a patterned pebble-paved square in Alhama de Granada

Iglesia del Carmen with tiled roofs and a bell tower above its square in Alhama de Granada

What you’ll find

Bus connectionPublic transportBuy
Car parkParkingFree
ChurchChurch visitFree
FestivalAnnual festivalFree
Guided tourGuided tour (€3, from 12:00)Book
Hiking trailHikingFree
Historic centreOld town walkFree
Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
Moorish quarterMoorish heritage walkFree
MuseumFree museumFree
Natural poolWild swimmingFree
Tourist officeVisitor information (10:00–14:00)Free
ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

The town stands on the rim of the Tajos de Alhama (0 km), the gorge of the Río Alhama with viewpoints in the old town and a circular path past ruined mills. About 2 km north, the spa keeps an Arab bath hall, with free natural hot pools in the river below the bridge. Westwards, the Alcazaba of Loja (23 km) was another Nasrid fortress on the road to Granada, and over the sierra towards the coast lie the Nerja Caves (30 km). Towards Granada, the Federico García Lorca House Museum (30 km) at Valderrubio recalls the poet, and to the north the white hill town of Montefrío (35 km) is known for the view of its Iglesia de la Villa on a rock above the rooftops.

Alhama de Granada at a glance

Category
Culture White villages

Location
Alhama, Granada

Town
Alhama de Granada

Address
Plaza de la Constitución 18120

Opening hours
Open access; the streets can be visited at any time. Tourist office: Tue–Sun 10:00–14:00, plus Fri and Sat 16:00–18:30; on Mondays enquiries go to the Centro de Interpretación, 11:00–14:00. Guided walks leave at 12:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Prices
Free to walk around; guided town walk about €3 (cash); the Nasrid dungeons are only seen on guided tours.

Website
turismodealhamadegranada.com

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