Summer is coming to the city of Granada and not everyone can emigrate to the beach.
You may be among those who have had to stay during the summer months in the city of the Alhambra. If this is the case, we suggest what to do in summer in Granada without going to the beach.
Due to your job, that of your partner or that directly this year you have not been able to enjoy holidays, you cannot escape to the beach for a single moment. You have to stay in the city and enjoy the Granada asphalt.
And, in addition, with the issue of the coronavirus, this summer is being atypical and any escapes. Carrying with the family is complicated and the best thing is to think about what to do in summer in Granada without going to the beach.
You are not the only one in this situation. They say that “evil of many, consolations of fools. But is not the case. Granada in summer can also be wonderful. There are different activities and proposals to do. In addition, the city is quite empty and it is time to be on the streets without bumping into thousands of people.
What to do in summer in Granada without going to the beach
No vehicles, better on foot
The first thing we recommend is to leave your car well parked and enjoy a good walk with the family, although it is better to leave this for the night. Leave the car just 7 minutes walk from the center, in the Parking Torres Neptuno, and set off to discover the city.
Eat an ice cream from ‘Los Italianos’
To think of summer in Granada is to think of Los Italians. Just as ‘El Corte Inglés’ marks the beginning of Christmas, this famous and mythical Granada ice cream parlor marks the beginning of summer in the city of the Alhambra. There are few better plans than a night walk through the center of the city and cooling off with an ice cream or the specialty of the house: the Cassata cake
Especially at night, the Albaicín neighborhood is one of the coolest areas of the city. The narrow network of its streets and the passage of the Rio Darro through one of its main arteries, so they have.
The Albaicín neighborhood, declared a World Heritage Site in 1984, was the seed of the current city of Granada and still preserves all the magic of its Arab past.
In the Islamic period, the current Albaicín was a set of different independent urban centers and it was not until the modern era that it reached its current unitary conception.
The Albaicín was originally a nucleus that extended to the northeast of the Alcazaba Cadima (old). There are several versions about the origin of the Albaicín place-name. The most accepted is the one that refers to an Arabic word that designates the falconers’ neighborhood. It was not until the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th when the name began to be used interchangeably to refer to the original small suburb and the entire urban complex located in front of the Alhambra.
Walking through the Albaicín is walking through the history of Granada. Its buildings, its squares and the very structure of its streets allow the observing visitor to recognize the different cultural and social transformations of the city.
What to do in summer in Granada without going to the beach? This option is a favorite of both locals and strangers.
The visit to Granada will never be complete if the ‘tapas’ is not practiced in its bars and taverns, in which varied and succulent dishes are offered as a courtesy of the house with the drink, which is usually a beer ‘Alhambra’ or a wine from the Granada Denomination of Origin. It is normally the innkeeper himself who chooses the cover, and the customer accepts the choice with respect. In some bars it is possible to choose the top from a list.
Going for tapas with friends is one of the most deeply rooted customs in the capital of Granada. The proposal could not be more attractive: stroll through the city and contemplate its living history while enjoying snacks in picturesque places. From portions of cheese, sausages or Serrano ham to hot dishes typical of traditional Granada cuisine: crumbs with ‘cheating’, tripe, broad beans with ham, poor potatoes, fried ‘pescaíto’, etc.
It should be remembered that tapas is not limited only to the capital, being a tradition that extends throughout the entire province. It is possible to enjoy tapas anywhere in Granada, taking the opportunity to discover the specialties and typical variants of each locality.
TAPING AREAS IN GRANADA
The city offers several tapas areas. Among many others are:
The Campo del Príncipe and the Plaza del Realejo and its surroundings, a neighborhood that was the Jewish quarter of the Muslim city.
Plaza Nueva and adjacent streets such as Elvira, Colcha and the beginning of Reyes Católicos, which is the heart of the city.
Near the Cathedral, the Plaza de la Romanilla and the Plaza de la Pescadería are also two nerve centers for tapas in the city.
Next to the Town Hall is Navas Street, a pedestrian area with plenty of typical bars and taverns. The popularity of this area has led to its extension as a place for tapas to Rosario, San Matías and Varela streets.
The walk through the Albaicín neighborhood has four squares as obligatory stops to regain strength: Larga, San Miguel Bajo, Aliatar and San Nicolás, behind the church.
Near the Genil river, Alhamar street and its perpendiculars near San Antón.
The Plaza de Toros, under its lines, houses restaurants, tapas bars and places to have drinks.
Outside the center, we recommend a visit to the La Chana neighborhood, very popular among students due to the large size of its tapas bars, and the Zaidín neighborhood, near the Cármenes Stadium, in streets such as Torre Pedro de Morales and Emperor Carlos V.
A refreshing and enriching idea, as well as didactic. The Science Park is an interactive museum, the first of its kind in southern Spain, and a benchmark in scientific dissemination in Europe. With about 70,000 square meters of exhibition space, it is one of the main attractions of Andalusia’s cultural and tourist offer and the most visited museum in the region.
Made up of a wide range of permanent and temporary exhibitions, it is a place where visitors, regardless of their age, learn by participating in a multitude of activities. Nothing like this in what to do in summer in Granada without going to the beach.
The Alhambra was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984. Its name comes from the color of its walls (Al-Hamra in Arabic) which were made with the clay of the land itself, hence its reddish color.
The complex, which requires at least three hours to visit, is located on the Sabika hill, next to the Darro River. It is mainly made up of the Generalife Gardens, the Nasrid Palaces and the Alcazaba, of Arab construction. Of Christian invoice we find the palace of Carlos V and the church of Santa María, built on the old mosque. The Nasrid Palaces are grouped irregularly and the different rooms communicate with each other through patios or galleries.
The origins of the Alhambra date back to the 9th century, when the Alcazaba began to be used as a refuge. It was in the 13th century when the first Nasrid monarch, Mohamed I, established his royal residence there. His successor, Mohamed II, finished the walled enclosure. In the 14th century, with the reigns of Yusuf and Mohamed V, the Alhambra acquired its monumental and precious appearance that we know today. Yusuf built the nucleus of the Palacio de Comares, with the great tower that projects over the city. The interior enclosure of the Palace housed the Sultan’s throne, located under the roof that represents the concept of the universe of Allah. In addition, this monarch enriched the enclosure with monumental doors, such as the Armas (main entrance to the Alhambra) or the Justice.
The Alhambra is one of the most visited monuments in Europe. This, together with the logical access restrictions for conservation reasons, makes it not always easy to get a ticket. To avoid surprises, it is highly recommended to book in advance and learn about the access and visit system of the monumental complex.
Mohamed V, reformed the Comares Palace, adding the spectacular façade of the Patio del Cuarto Dorado. He also built the innovative Palace of the Lions, leaving aside the existing palace model up to that time and creating a new model of a quadripartite structure inspired by the eastern models of Islam.
The Alhambra is a unique example of how light and water offer important decorative effects to architecture. A careful choice of materials makes its ornamentation change according to the incidence of light. The water works as a mirror reflecting the architecture and decorative elements, contributing to a sense of peace. In addition, in combination with light, it creates illusory compositions and softens horizontal architecture, as can be seen in the Patio de los Arrayanes.
The Alhambra was abandoned in the 18th century. During the French domination part of the fortress was blown up and it was not until the 19th century that its repair, restoration and conservation began, which still remains.
Another option for what to do in summer in Granada without going to the beach.
The Sacromonte, a traditional neighborhood of the Granada gypsies, hides all the duende of Andalusian flamenco, an art that in Granada has a special charm. To the zambra, half Moorish half gypsy, we must add the numerous flamenco peñas and tablaos that exist. Thus, it is not difficult for the visitor to enjoy a magnificent flamenco show, both in the tablaos and in the peñas and zambras.
There are many tourists who climb the Sacromonte to get into an authentic flamenco night. Alboreás, tangos, alegrías, jaleo, zorongos … A whole range of possibilities that do not leave indifferent. Zambras have enjoyed international fame, attracting Nobel laureates, Hollywood stars, politicians, etc. Everyone was undoubtedly captivated by these gypsy parties with dancing and singing until the wee hours of the morning, which take place in a no less curious setting: the sacromontin caves.
For those unfamiliar with the terms, a tablao is a bar where they offer live flamenco shows. They began to develop in the sixties throughout Andalusia, replacing the old Cafés Cantantes. Its name refers to the fact that the scene of these premises was formed by wooden boards.
Another highly recommended modality to experience a great cante session is the flamenco peñas. Some of the most representative of the Granada capital are located in the Albaicín neighborhood. Peñas are generally formed by a group of friends who get together to share their great hobby: cante jondo. In the peñas, flamenco is spoken, sung and lived. There are also performances and recitals. Granada has the honor of having the oldest flamenco club in the country, La Platería.