Granada Local Secrets

As an organization that sends thousands of students abroad each year, CEA has captured a list of local secrets - a collection of discoveries from our students, resident staff, as well as other locals - that make this city unique. We hope you will find the information helpful and, at the very least, an interesting read.

Flamenco

Dating back to the 15th century, Flamenco is a style of music and dance. It is considered an art and a vital part of the Spanish culture. The Sacromonte, a Gypsy neighborhood, is home to genuine caves, many of them converted into Zambras, where flamenco dance and music is performed by local gypsies. The Zambra la Rocío is the most well-known, visited by illustrious people like the King & Queen of Spain and most recently Michelle Obama and her daughter, Sasha.

Bullfights

With origins dating back to 711 AD, the spectacle of bullfighting is closely associated with Spanish culture. Therefore, watching a bullfight is a “must do” on most visitors’ lists. Writers Ernest Hemingway and James Michener were considered aficionados and wrote about it reverently. Granada has a unique bullfighting ring known for its beautiful architecture, as well as its many restaurants and bars. During the Corpus Christi Fair, the most important matadors perform. The bullfighting ring is open for visitors year-round.

Tapas

Tapas are appetizers that range from traditional Spanish food to sophisticated cuisine. Granada is well known for serving “free tapas” when you order a drink or refreshment at any café, bar, restaurant or terrace. “Tapas crawls” are very popular all over Spain, since great food and fun is guaranteed for little money.

Arab Baths

Granada´s history is closely related to water. The Arab Baths or “Hamman” preserve this ancient tradition. Arab Baths, inherited from Al-Andalus, offer a unique experience that is a cross between a spa and hot springs. Visitors enjoy the calming atmosphere of soaking in large baths that range in temperature from cold to hot. The idea is to alternate between the various pools, never letting your body overheat. You can also take advantage of the relaxing aromatherapy massages. The Arab Baths are one of the main touristic attractions of the city.

Tea shop or Tetería

The 'tetería' scene in Granada is a highly exotic experience. It follows the Arabic tradition of sipping exquisite aromatic herbal teas in an ambience that is both bohemian and opulent. The décor, like the tea, has romantic and oriental flavors and is very intimate in cool, dimly lit with low tables and chairs and scatter cushions in fabrics of rich Arabic colors.

Gastronomy

One of the most well known Granada dishes is the Jamón de Trevelez, a special ham that is cured in the snow at the highest elevation in Spain. This ham is often combined with two other specialties from Granada like papas a lo pobre (potatoes and green peppers) and migas (fried bread). Other typical dishes include the Tortilla Sacromonte, a Spanish omelet or Habas con Jamon, beans cooked with this special ham.

Being the third largest producer of wine in the world, it is a huge part of the culture in Spain. There are more than fifty wine regions, Andalucía being one of the most well known for its famous Xerry. In Granada, taste the local wine (vino de la tierra) and famous beer (Alhambra). The Alhambra Reserva 1925 has won a WBA (World Beer Award) and is on the list of the world’s most recommended beers.

Alhambra

The Alhambra, built in the 11th century, is protected by the snow- capped Sierra Nevada Mountains and surrounded by a forest. It is an impressive castle, red in coloring, which served as a fortress. The Alhambra and gardens of Generalife achieved the status of Patrimony of Humanity from UNESCO. It is the most visited monument in Spain and was a finalist in the new “Seven Wonders of the World” contest. World leaders from different religions have visited.

Mirador de San Nicolás (San Nicolas Viewpoint)

Located at the top of the narrow cobblestoned streets of the Albaycín and with the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada in the background, the sunset in the Mirador de San Nicolas was described by Bill Clinton as “one of the most beautiful in the world” because the clay walls of The Alhambra shine like gold in the last rays of the sun. This is one of the favorite places of CEA students who come to Granada.

Cathedral & Royal Chapel

Located in the heart of the city, the Cathedral of Granada is considered the first Renaissance church in Spain. Founded on May 21, 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs, the completion of this colossal temple took a little more than 200 years. The main facade is a masterpiece of Baroque style drawn by Alonso Cano in 1667. Connected to the Cathedral is the Royal Chapel, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture as well as a mausoleum, designed by Enrique Egas. It houses the remains of the Catholic monarchs.

Plazas (Squares)

The multiple plazas in Granada date back to the Moorish architecture design of the city, which was conceived to delight the five senses: the whispering of the water running through the statuesque fountains, the smell of the flowers and gardens, and the natural sunlight are obligatory elements in all these beautiful squares. Some of the plazas in the city centre are: Plaza de Bib-Rambla also called Square of the Flowers, Plaza de la Trinidad, Plaza Nueva, Plaza de Gracia, and many others.

Fingerprint of Illustrious Artists in Granada

Granada has inspired numerous artists throughout history:

• One of the main chambers at the Alhambra is devoted to Washing Irving, where he wrote his famous “Tales of the Alhambra.”
• The residence of famous poet Federico Garcia Lorca is now a museum, which is open daily. You can find paintings, manuscripts, photos and other original documents of Lorca and other artists from this time, like Dali.
• Visit the Manuel de Falla´s auditorium and delight your ears with work he composed in Granada. The famous composer’s house, surrounded by beautiful gardens, is now a museum. Aside from personal objects, you also can find paintings from Picasso.

Museums in Granada

There are many different museums and cultural centers in Granada. Examples include:

• Located in the 16th century Castril palace, the Archaeological Museum contains artifacts from many different civilizations that lived in Granada, including the Carthaginians, the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Arabs.
• The Jose Guerrero Centre is dedicated to displaying and promoting the local artist. The museum is in a beautiful house from the 19th century.
• The Museum of Fine Arts is located on the second floor of the palace of Carlos V from the 16th century. It houses works from local Grenadian artists like Fray Sanchez Cotan as well as other artists like Alonso Cano and Pedro de Mena.

Places of Worship

Granada has the most Catholic churches and temples per square meter of any Spanish city, many of which are also authentic museums with pieces of art. Other religions have become popular in Granada, making it easy to find Baptist and Evangelical churches as well. Granada is home to the biggest Mosque in Europe, located at the top of the Albaycín with impressive views of the Alhambra.

Science Park

The Science Park is an interactive museum of more than 70,000 square meters, located a few short minutes from the historic city centre of Granada. The first of its kind in the south of Spain, it is also the most visited museum in Andalusia. It is a space where visitors of any age can enjoy learning science while proving physical phenomenon such as inertia, gravity or the Archimedes principle; play with light and sound, understand the Earth’s movement, the greenhouse effect or the demographic explosion; and experiment with electricity and erosion.

Night Life in Granada

With a student population of more than 70,000, Granada is the ideal place to enjoy the “marcha” and dance the night away. Discos are open as late as 8 a.m. There are many parts of the city devoted to nightlife, with streets full of bars and discotheques of all styles and ambience.

Shopping in Granada

The historical streets of Granada host a variety of shops. In some, time seems to have stopped, preserving the ancient trades of clay and ceramics, wood and leather, the construction of guitars, textiles and welding. There are many gift shops and local handcrafted jewelry stores. In contrast, there are also many sophisticated modern shops and expensive boutiques.

Mountains and Beaches

Sierra Nevada is Europe's most southern ski resort, just 32 km from the centre of Granada. In 1996, it hosted the World Alpine Ski Championships. The ski season normally lasts from the beginning of December until May. Andalusia boasts sunny days year-round, making it possible to ski with beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures, even in the middle of winter.

Spain has over 5,000 miles of coastline. The Costa Tropical, situated on the Mediterranean, has a subtropical micro-climate with 320 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of around 20ºC. Cliffs, coves and long beaches make up the landscape of this coveted coastline. Less than an hour’s drive from Costa Tropical are the famous beaches of Marbella & Puerto Banús, where the Obamas and the King of Arabia have vacationed.