The party dug out of the Sacromonte

Granada is mapped out on the basis of magic corners, one of which is the most gypsy area of the city. The steep streets that line the northern side of the Valparaíso Valley form a district whose most characteristic building is the dugout cave. Their origin lies in the dwellings lying outside the city walls, and although many of them are still precisely this, dwellings, many others have become premises for music, eating and culture.

The Sacromonte Cave Museum, in addition to displaying the form of life in this place for more than two centuries, in the summer organises flamenco and open air cinema. Alongside this building, there is a large number of bars and tablaos (premises where flamenco is danced) paying tribute to the zambra, the typical dance of the gypsies from Granada. The rocky, lime covered walls have witnessed innumerable dances, have heard the best flamenco voices and received thousands of visitors in search of something different. One extra piece of advice: the Sunday nearest to 1 February is the celebration of the ‘Romería de San Cecilio’ procession, which takes thousands of people from Granada to the Sacromonte Abbey. This is a popular festival in which omelettes, broad beans, cod and wine from the area are passed around and in which all of the district's inhabitants open and decorate their caves in the best dress. This is the best time to try the specialities.

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