Alhama de Granada

Alhama de Granada is a beautiful, ancient spa town set at about 900m in rolling hills and surrounded by mountain ranges. The town, of around 6,500 inhabitants, runs along one side of a deep gorge at the bottom of which runs the Rio Alhama. People have settled here since Neolithic times and there is evidence of Roman remains in the gorge as well as Moorish irrigation channels and the ruins of the 20th century flour mills. The Moors arrived in the 8th century and reigned until Alhama fell to the Catholic monarchs in 1482. In the old Arab Quarter there is much to see of Alhama's Moorish past in the carvings and design of compact village houses with inner courtyards.

The medieval Church of the Encarnacion was built on the grounds of the Great Mosque and its imposing silhouette stands proud of the town. The museum inside the church houses a priest's vestment hand-embroidered by Queen Isabella. Other historical and architectural highlights include a Roman bridge, the pink-walled Moorish fortress, the gothic Inquisition House, the 13th century Il Posito (the old synagogue) and the Renaissance Hospital of La Reina. West of the steep and narrow streets of the Arab district the town’s character changes and there are many fine townhouses and two pretty squares where Spanish families promenade in the pleasant coolness of the mountain evenings.
Around the squares there are lots of lively bars and restaurants serving local cuisine, all with outdoor seating in the summer months. Enjoying complimentary tapas with your drink is a great local tradition and there's lots of choice. Typically, you could be served crusty bread with the local cured ham or cheese, grilled mushrooms with garlic, slices of pork or lamb with mayonnaise served in a little bun, langoustines, calamares and monkfish, olives, spanish tortilla - the list is endless!

Alhama is a great town for strolling around as there is lots to enjoy in the traditional whitewashed houses with their terracotta tiled roofs and shaded terraces. Often you can hear the trickle of running water from the many fountains, sounds of flamenco drifting down from balconies and catch glimpses of the beautiful pastel shades of the landscape beyond the town.
In the new part of town, La Joya, there is an outdoor swimming pool with a little bar and pleasant grassed and shaded area which is open in the summer months – a perfect spot for relaxing after a heavy day’s sightseeing!
Also in this part of town there is a bustling market every Friday. You can pick up local crafts such as pottery, basketware and embroidered or crocheted goods. To stock up for your stay you'll find a great choice of fresh fruit and vegetables, all of which is grown locally.
The name Alhama comes from al-hamman which means ‘hot springs’ in Arabic. Just outside of town there are four hot pools nestled next to the Rio Merchan under shady trees which are available for anyone to use day or night. The thermal springs have been channelled into therapeutic baths since Roman times and you can visit the famous spa with it’s Muslim horse-shoe shaped arch and book a massage or treatment while the Hotel Balneario is open between April to October each year.

Around Alhama de Granada

There is lots to enjoy in the local countryside. Alhama is located in an area known as El Poniente Granadino which is the very heart of Andalucia. Everywhere you look the view stretches as far as the eye can see and takes in gentle hills, green valleys and craggy moonscape mountain peaks. The Natural Park of the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama offer secluded picnic areas, usually next to a river or lake, and lovely walks. For hiking, the peak of La Maroma is at 2,080m and offers year round snow in chasms at the summit and wonderful views of the area.

Beautiful Lake Bermejales is dramatically set against a backdrop of jagged mountain peaks. Much of the lake is surrounded by sandy beach and pine trees offering restful shade. You can picnic at the weekends with local Spanish families or find a deserted spot of your own. It’s a great spot for fishing, canoeing (canoes and pedaloes available for hire), swimming, walking and relaxing and the small settlement next to the lake has a handful of pleasant bars with shaded courtyards offering local wine and cuisine.

From Alhama it is possible to walk through the gorge to La Presa, a little lake beautifully situated which offers great fishing, walking routes in the Natural Park and two hides for bird watching. The 45 minute walk to the lake is spectacular with breathtaking views of the huge limestone escarpments of Los Tajos and you can find delightful swimming holes in the Rio Alhama along the route. Next to the lake you can lunch at El Ventorro which offers delicious local cuisine or at Pato Loco which has a swimming pool.

With its lovely warm and bright days springtime in Southern Andalucia is wonderful for walking and cycling and famous for it’s fantastic display of wildflowers including poppies, gladiolas, irises, lavender, thyme, thistles and orchids. The smell of springtime almond blossom is delightful. Southern Andalucia is also home to a host of migratory birds making their journey from Africa to northern Europe and back again and it's possible to spot eagles and many other raptors as well as swifts, swallows, woodpeckers, kingfishers, owls and many more. Late summer and autumn are lovely times to be out and about in the local countryside and there's a great display of autumn colours as the seasons change. Winter days can be crisp but are often warm with bright blue skies and still delightful for exploring the area.

Alhama Rentals

Alhama de Granada, in the fertile heart of the Poniente Granadino in Southern Andalucia, is the perfect holiday destination.
The town of Alhama offers history dating from Roman times through Moorish reign and up to modern days. Alhama is very attractive, traditional, bustling and precariously positioned running along the edge of an enormous limestone gorge, Los Tajos. Along the bottom of the gorge run the Rios Alhama and Merchan. Nearby, hot springs gurgle into four thermal pools next to the Rio Merchan. The town has grand, imposing Medieval architecture and lively bars surrounding attractive squares. Surrounding Alhama are soft, pastel shaded rolling hills, attractive small villages and stunning views extending to looming mountain ranges.
Alhama is perfectly situated, close enough for: an easy day or weekend trip to the splendid cities of Granada and Malaga; the sea air of the attractive seaside towns of Nerja and Almunecar; and the striking and exhilarating mountain regions of the Sierra Nevada and the Sierras Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara which offer great walking and wintersports. The area has so much to offer you can easily spend quite some time here unwinding and exploring, at any time of the year.
This is Alhama Rentals where our mission is to bring the delights of Alhama de Granada and its surrounding area to your attention.
We aim to introduce you to some of the history of this delightful, thriving market town along with details of the accommodation we are offering and relevant information to help you to plan your stay. WHO ARE WE?
We are a group of friends who have got together to promote our accommodation in Alhama de Granada. We all love this area very much and are passionate about providing great quality accommodation and ensuring you have the holiday of a lifetime.

Alhama de Granada Weather

Although only an hour from the coast Alhama sits at around 900m above sea level and so has the benefit of fresh mountain air and none of the humidity levels suffered on the coast.
The four seasons are clearly defined with hot summers and crisp winters. Interestingly, the median temperature for the year is quite low, at 13 degrees Celsius. This is because temperatures go up to the mid-30s in the summer but winter nights can go just below freezing which make them perfect for getting cosy in front of the fire.

Winter starts around December and brings temperatures dropping to around freezing at night with wonderful displays of the planets and stars. The daytime sky is often clear and the warm sunshine brings temperatures in the day time up to a pleasant level where it is possible to lunch outside in comfort. La Maroma, the nearest high peak at around 2000m, is often covered in snow from Dec/Jan onwards and is easily reached from Alhama. A short drive out of town takes you to the Alhama Valley where you can walk and enjoy views of snow covered peaks, including the Sierra Nevada, all around you. A great local tradition which you can enjoy is placing 'braziers' (trays of burning embers) under the table and a favourite local bar, La Ochoa, does this every evening.

Of course it rains (and snows) in Alhama so there can be no guarantee of a week of uninterrupted sunshine - there never is with the weather - but it is quite dependably dry and pleasant.
Spring brings one of the loveliest seasons to the area. Bright blue skies, wild flowers, almond blossom and crops of barley dazzle the senses and taking a picnic out for the day is a particular treat. This is southern Spain at it's best; doors are thrown open once again, people congregate in the streets to catch up on the gossip and bars and restaurants set up their tables and chairs on the streets and squares. Spanish people love to socialise al-fresco and the squares are buzzing every evening from now til September.

In June temperatures start to climb and by the beginning of July can reach the mid-30s by mid-afternoon. For sun worshippers this is heaven and perfectly counter-balanced by a cool mountain breeze in the evenings and night times which makes it very comfortable for evening strolls around town choosing a bar to dine in al-fresco. In the night, temperatures drop to around the mid-20s making it very easy to sleep comfortably and wake in the morning completely refreshed. Locally, the tradition is to take full advantage of this and the benches in the squares are usually full of, often elderly, men and women relaxing and chatting into the small hours of the morning. The land is very fertile and, in rural Spain, many people have a little 'cortigo' in the country where they grow crops for the pot back in town. When exploring the area you often come across little market gardens stuffed full of maize, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, flowers for the table and grapes for the 'vino de terrano', local wine.

Pretty much on exactly the 1st of September temperatures start to come down slowly and by around the end of October the autumn colours are in their full glory. Poplars, eucalyptus, figs, beeches, fruit trees and many others display a delightful variety of colours and this can go on til the end of December or even longer. This is a wonderful time to be out and about as the air is fresh and the sun warm.
For the Weather In Alhama for the coming week - click Weather

Out and about from Alhama de Granada

If you fancy a romantic evening out why not engage a qualified childcare specialist to babysit your child or children for the evening? Perhaps you want to hike La Maroma, or go to the theatre in Granada?
Baby Sitting Lynne are available for babysitting in Alhama. For more information about babysitting and advice on local activities you and your children can do together, please call Lynne on 0034 610013182.
Walking A wonderful asset when going to a new place for the first time is access to great quality local information. Terry, a former West Yorkshire Police ‘Task Force’ officer, is an enthusiastic walker who can take you out on some of his favourite routes and introduce you to some of the astounding scenery that is available locally. For more Information see here Alhambra Rambler
As Andalucia has dramatic mountain ranges, sparkling lakes, forests of oak and pine as well as gentle rolling hills and orchards, you can see that a huge range of walks are available. Walks can be tailored to your needs from a gentle stroll around Alhama’s highlights to a whole day trek.

Days out from Alhama de Granada

Alhama is so well-placed between the coast and the mountains there are lots of interesting places to visit which are easily accessible within an hour or so's drive from the town. Here are just a few!

From December to April you can enjoy fantastic skiing and snowboarding in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range. The resort itself, called ’Solynieve’, looks like something from a picture postcard. There’s a wide choice of runs for all levels; tuition and equipment hire also available. You can easily avoid the weekend queues at the slopes by driving up from Alhama during the working week; ski all day and be back in Alhama in plenty of time for dinner. The Sierra Nevada National Park is also fabulous all year round for walking and cycling and only one and a half hour's drive from Alhama.
The Costa Tropical is one hour's drive where you can visit the historical seaside towns of Nerja, La Herradura and Almunecar. All the usual water sports including wind-surfing, sailing, para-gliding and scuba diving are very popular from La Herradura in particular. The towns are attractive and have traditional architecture, old barrios with flower laden balconies and twisting cobbled lanes, and lots of great restaurants, bars and shops.
A trip to the famous caves at Nerja with 20,000 year old paintings and a concert hall housed in one of the caves is highly recommended with admission prices at 5 euros for adults and 2.50 for kids makes it easy on the pocket too! There is a very nice restaurant at the caves with terrific views and a pleasant park and picnic area in the grounds.
North of Alhama, the nearby town of Antequera is an attraction in itself, but also has a lobo park (wolf reserve) and a donkey sanctuary which are fascinating for kids and really good causes deserving support. The town of Loja is a short drive from Alhama and it’s attractive main street is a treasure trove for shoppers; check out the numerous bazaars for some great gifts to take back home.
Two more villages that are in very easy reach are Riofrio and Montefrio. Popular with Spanish families, especially on Sundays, Riofrio’s river is teeming with trout and the cluster of restaurants there serve up these delicious fresh fish at a very reasonable price. Montefrio is a typical white Spanish village with windy narrow streets for you to stroll down before enjoying some tapas and drinks in one of the bars.
We have lots more information and details of traveling times, directions, etc at our properties and are more than happy to chat with you about options for different days out.

Granada

Only 45 minutes away, Granada (the 'pomegranate') epitomises the contrasts to be found in southern Spain. Elegant 18th century avenues give way to twisting mosaic cobbled lanes; you�ll see magnificent mansions as well as cave dwellings; exclusive fashion and Moroccan street markets; and fabulous monuments created by the Nasrid sultans and the Catholic monarchs at the height of their power and brilliance.

Click here for ticket reservation > Alhambra Often referred to as 'The Jewel of Spain', Granada is a great destination for sightseeing, shopping, cultural events, dining, fabulous tapas bars and, of course, spending a day at the Alhambra; the most-visited historical monument in Europe.

If you fancy an overnight stay, we highly recommend booking tickets for La Chumbera theatre in Sacromonte where, on Saturday evenings from October to April, you can enjoy authentic flamenco with the Alhambra as the glorious backdrop.