Villa Alhambra

Villa Alhambra enjoys one of the finest locations in the old historic centre of the Albaicin quarter – Granada’s oldest Arab district and UNESCO listed - and affords magnificent views slap bang opposite the breath-taking, hilltop Alhambra from where the house takes its name. A stay at Villa Alhambra lets you absorb all the sights and sounds of pure Andalusia.

A serene and peaceful place, it’s ideal for a quiet escape where you can listen to the trees rustling and the birds singing, and be within easy distance to the cobbled streets and alleyways crowded with Moorish villas, colourful tiles and jasmine-scented courtyards full of charm and atmosphere. Days can be spend wandering the streets of the old Albaicin quarter. Reflecting the city’s Moorish traditions, you’ll discover exotic tearooms and restaurants serving delicious tagine and couscous dishes. Everywhere else, tapas bars take precedence, with sunny pavement tables primed for tasty titbits like quails’ eggs, cured ham, manchego cheese accompanied by cold Spanish beer, sherry or wine. Many of the traditional restaurants offer Spanish favourites like gazpacho, flamenco eggs or La tortilla del Sacromonte (a type of omelette made with sweetbreads and ham). Early evening is the cue to enjoy the popular sweet treat of chocolate con churros, delicious doughnut sticks dipped in hot chocolate.

Also, at night-time experience a taste of real Spanish Flamenco at one of Albaicin’s atmospheric tablao’s, wowing at Andalusia’s spectacular traditional dance form, where dancers passionately sway and sashay to the sounds of castanets and strumming guitars.
Soak up some of the region’s richest history too. The Church of San Nicolás is well worth the steep hike through streets of Albaicin to marvel the view of the Alhambra and the Generalife with the Sierra Nevada backdrop.

Staying at Villa Alhambra really is a dream. As well as the charming local area, you will be greeted morning, noon and night by the magnificent views of Granada’s most famed and World UNESCO heritage sites and one of the wonders of the Arab World – The Alhambra Palace. You can seriously spend hours just gazing, taking photos or even painting the view of this marvel. It’s incredible. And visiting; you have to visit too! Granada isn’t complete without a visit or two to the Alhambra; the 13th century Arab palace complex with its ornate chambers, gardens and fountains, to its fine cathedral, including the stunning summer palace Generalife. It’s a popular sight and truly marvellous, so book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

There are endless ways to fill your days, whether you’re out to relax, soak up some of Spain’s richest history or simply live it up. Granada is one of Spain’s most visited cities, so it’s crammed full of tourist shops of every description. In the Caldererias area, you’ll find a bazaar-like maze of streets crammed with Moorish-style stalls groaning with inlaid wooden boxes, iron lanterns and leather goods, whilst elsewhere there’s a huge variety of Andalusian shops selling castanets, glazed tiles and hand-painted ceramics. For modern-day shopping, make a beeline for the boutiques and department stores clustered around the cathedral and Puerta Real. It’s no surprise the city is bursting with mosques, Arab fortresses and Gothic churches to discover too. The city also has a bustling market scene. The best known is the Mercado San Augustin. Visit here and browse the stalls selling fresh produce and tasty snacks, and best still, you’re just a short stroll from the cathedral.

Granada is loaded with eateries, so it’s foodie heaven. A great and popular shopping spot with locals is Mercadillo de Plaza Larga - a market held every Saturday. It’s perfect for picking up fresh fruit and vegetables that you can take back to your villa cook up delicious feasts. Nightlife in Granada starts late, so maybe start things gradually by snacking at the many outdoor tapas bars. Later, there’s an incredible choice of electrifying flamenco shows, jazz clubs and music bars to enjoy or if you’re feeling more adventurous, follow the crowds to the atmospheric Sacromonte district for the legendary zambra, where local gypsies dance in cavernous clubs to castanets and strumming guitars. Around 11 o’clock, Granada’s nightclubs leap into action if you fancy strutting your stuff or for something different, head for the soothing hammam baths in Calle Santa Ana to relax in the warm waters, Arab style!

Whether you tapas-safari your way round the compact, easy-to-explore city centre, or spend time discovering the hidden caves of Albaicin, a Granada holiday is sure to leave you hungry for more.

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