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Casa del Horno - House of the Kiln |
| boutique townhouse in alhama de granada, andalucia, spain |
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Tel: +44 (0)113 275 0743
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Alhama de Granada
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Alhama de Granada is a very beautiful, traditional, lively quintessential Andalucian market town. It is perched along the edge of a deep limestone gorge, Los Tajos. In the bottom of the gorge the Rios Alhama and Merchan rivers flow. The town has grand Medieval architecture, an ancient Arabic quarter and no shortage of lively tapas bars - around 38 in all at the last count. There are fantastic squares where you can while away the hours sipping your coffee or glass of wine and watching the world go by. Surrounding Alhama are rolling hills, attractive small villages, lakes, rivers and stunning views extending to the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Alhama's history can be traced to the beginnings of civilisation in the Iberian peninsula - Phoenician, Roman, Visigoth and Moorish influences all combine with the architecture of the medieval Catholics. The Moors ruled until the reconquest by the Catholic queen Isabella and Ferdinand. All of these people have left their mark on the town - the 1st century Roman bridge, the Moorish baths and castle, the imposing churches of Iglesia del Carmen (by the gorge) and Iglesia Mayor de Santa Maria de la Encarnación and a 16th century convent.
The thermal springs were made famous under Moorish rule although it was the Romans who first channeled the springs into baths. The town's name in fact comes from the Arabic word for bath Al Hammam, the baths of Granada. Alhama’s position between Málaga and Granada gave it strategic importance for the Moors but they also had a particular fondness for the town and its thermal waters. The cry of sorrow, ¡Ay de mi Alhama!, uttered by Abu Al-Hacen following the battle of 1482 when the town was lost to the Catholic conquerors, entered the Spanish language as an exclamation of regret.
Alhama looks out over some of Spain's most spectacular scenery. In winter, the view to the majestic snow-capped Sierra Nevada is uninterrupted. In summer, take a trip out to the vast and beautiful Bermejales lake, a mere 10km from town and reached by a road lined with poplars and Mediterranean black pines. There are sandy beaches, safe swimming and plenty of non-motorised water sports. There are also a couple of cafes at the edge of the lake. Many of the local population spend evenings and weekends barbequing at the waters edge, it is a great location.
The sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama make up a large natural park. The landscape is in places rugged and craggy with deep ravines; in other areas olive and almond groves cover the hills. It's a region with prehistoric caves and formidable mountains, the highest peak, La Maroma is over 2,000 metres.
The Gorge
The Gorge in May
Caves
These caves are under Alhama de Granada.