Villa Cacin

With staggering mountain ranges, Cacín River, and the incredible city of Granada all within reach, the village of Cacín enjoys stunning panoramic views and an air of calm and peacefulness. A quintessentially Spanish village typical of the area, Cacín actually belongs to a series of villages that make up the Poniente Granadino - all lie to the west side of Granada. Days can be spent wandering Cacín village itself, soaking up the fresh air and scenery, enjoying the traditional atmosphere and the friendly local hospitality in the shops and traditional Spanish restaurants or Tapas bars.

Outdoor enthusiasts are in for an unforgettable holiday of adventure and discovery. Peppered with pueblos blancos, incredible viewpoints and enough footpaths to last a lifetime, as well as being close to the UNESCO city of Granada, it’s perfect for those who enjoy outdoor life.

Pull your hiking boots on and put your best foot forward! Explore deep valleys, lush flourish forests, soaring summits, and get your adrenaline fixed with a bout of rock climbing should you fancy that. If all that sounds too intense, take a walk on the wild side in one of the family-friendly hiking spots. The magnificent scenery of the Sierra Tejeda mountain range, a striking reddish-brown rock surrounded by the greenery of vineyards, yews and pines, which in winter is capped by a white layer of snow, is incredibly picture-postcard.

No trip to Cacín is complete without visiting Granada. With its magnificent backdrop of Spain’s snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada will seriously delight, surprise and seduce you big time. From incredible sightseeing at its breath-taking hilltop Moorish Alhambra palace complete with ornate chambers, gardens and fountains, to its fine cathedral, cobbled backstreets, colourful tapas bars, excellent shopping and flamboyant flamenco-based nightlife, 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. Top tip for visiting the Alhambra Palace, its cathedral, including the stunning summer palace Generalife - book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, it’s super popular and can get busy.

Take time to wander the streets of the old Albaicin quarter, reflecting on the city’s Moorish traditions. You’ll discover exotic tearooms and restaurants serving tagine and couscous dishes. Everywhere else, tapas bars vie for your attention. Pick a spot at a sunny pavement table and enjoy tasty titbits like quails’ eggs, cured ham, manchego cheese accompanied by Spanish beer, sherry or wine. Many of the traditional restaurants offer Spanish favourites - gazpacho, flamenco eggs or La tortilla del Sacromonte (a type of omelette made with sweetbreads and ham). As the sun settles, experience a taste of real Spanish Flamenco at one of Albaicin’s atmospheric tablao’s, wowing at Andalusia’s traditional dance form, where dancers passionately sway and sashay to the sounds of castanets and strumming guitars.

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 lively 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 foodie heaven and is loaded with eateries. A popular 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 gipsies dance in cavernous clubs to castanets and strumming guitars.

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