Sacromonte
- Address:Granada
- Admission:Free
Cultural Experience, Good Views / Viewpoint, People Watching, Popular with Locals, Neighborhood
9:53 PM Saturday, May 26
Passing clouds. Pleasantly warm.
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Sacromonte is traditionally Granada's Gitano quarter, and these days is the epicenter of the city's flamenco-based tourist trade. Spilling down the sides of its hill (the 'sacred mountain' of the name - the district is actually named after the Sacromonte Abbey), the area has been extensively commercialized, but still has plenty of magic. At dusk, with the lights twinkling and the Alhambra views, it's hard to resist.
It was in the 19th century that Sacromonte became the province of the Gitano. The local rock has enough clay to be soft, but enough rock to be stable when formed. Hence, many of the poorer people shaped caves into the sides of Sacromonte and lived in those. The community - and flamenco - thrived. During the 1960s floods rendered many of the caves uninhabitable, and many of the locals evacuated.
Latest Reviews All Sacromonte Reviews »
Wow! This tour convinced me that your company is superb! I realized when we arrived at our hotel, minutes before the tour was scheduled to begin, that I had not confirmed the tour in advance. I frantically tried to reach the tour operators, to no avail, when our driver suddenly appeared ready to take us to our destination! We learned more about Granada in this four-hour late afternoon tour than we learned in the remaining 36 hours of our stay! Not only were the cathedral and monastery beautiful, but the history imparted to us has piqued my curiosity to learn much more about Ferdinand and Isabella and the Christian "conquest" of the Muslims. And, the old world charm of the Muslim quarter is indescribable. This section of town is "off the beaten path" and we would never have been aware of its existence had it not been included on this tour. Continue Reading »
It was well organized. The bus pickup us up on time. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and information delivered in a pleasant way - not too much details and many dates. Continue Reading »
Today, the area has revived as a center of Gitano culture, and many of the caves are now used as flamenco theaters and even hotels. If you're seeing a performance, come early to walk around the district. Climb the hill to the Abbey and you'll be rewarded with fine sunset views.
