Area Guide for La Calahorra, GranadaIntroduction:La Calahorra sits in a gap located on the Sierra Nevada Mountains. To the north sits Puerto de la Ragua and to the south is the impressive ski resort area.
With the impressive mountain range standing tall, you can expect to have many photo opportunities using the stunning mountains as a background. No visit to La Calahorra is complete without strolling the town’s streets and taking in the impressive scenery. Don’t miss La Calahorra Castle; it is a breathtaking site.
History:Rich mining deposits brought many settlers to the area that would later be called La Calahorra. Evidence dating back to prehistoric times has been found in the earth. Phoenicians settled in the small town and through the years housed the Arcilacis, Visigoths, and Moors.
During the time of the Moors (Arabs), the townspeople were the first to rebel against Christian invasion. Settled deep between a gap in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the town proved to be an area hard to penetrate. Though Christians eventually succeeded after a number of revolutions, much of the town was destroyed by fire as the Moors fled for the final time. Christians were left to rebuild the town.
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar y Mendoza, bastard son of Cardinal Mendoza, was given control of the area. Despite the fact that the Cardinal should not have had children, Queen Isabel allowed this sin to slip by and gave La Calahorra to Rodrigo. Eventually, Rodrigo, whose wife had died, met and fell madly in love with a fifteen-year-old girl. He kidnapped her from the convent and eventually married her. It is for this young girl that Rodrigo had La Calahorra Castle built. Meanwhile, Rodrigo’s sin of kidnapping and marrying without permission did not go unnoticed. Rodrigo was hunted down and told to leave the area and never return.
Site Seeing:Typically, the Hermitage of San Gregorio is a small temple that holds services for its regular members. Once a year, however, the famed Race of the Nine Returns is held. During this race, mules are raced in circles around the temple. This event delights many locals and visitors.
Francisco Antero designed parochial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in the early 16th century. Completed in 1546, the Mudejar style church has huge towers, chapels, and an impressive domed ceiling.
La Calahorra Castle is La Calahorra’s largest tourist attraction. The gorgeous castle sits high on the sloped hillside allowing for excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Erected between 1509 and 1512, La Calahorra Castle is rectangular in shape with huge cupolas perched above each of the four towers. Inside marble balustrades grace the huge staircases. While the outside of the castle and the courtyards and gardens are open to the public, the castle is privately owned. If you plan ahead, the owners are usually open to giving private tours of the interior with a few days notice.
Industry:Tourism is an important aspect of La Calahorra, but it is not enough to fully sustain the town’s economy. Agriculture is the larger industry.
Peach and almond groves are quite populous. The soil and climate ensure bountiful crops of both peaches and almonds that can be sold throughout the region.
Handmade sausages and cheeses are also common in the area. They can be shipped to many other areas to bring in necessary revenue.
Gastronomy:Sustento is La Calahorra’s most popular dish. This stew blends pork ribs, potatoes, garlic, and sausage. It is both rich and hearty.
Sausage and cheese are handcrafted at a handful of artisan shops. Locals eat large quantities of the sausage and cheese every year. Garlic sausage is one of the area specials.
Cod is used in many dishes, including Rin-Ran. Rin-Ran is a salad mixing potatoes, cod, red peppers, green olives, olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings.
Nightlife:Despite its rich history, La Calahorra still has fewer than 800 residents. There are a few restaurants scattered throughout the town, as well as a couple neighbourhood bars. For active discos and nightclubs, however, you will need to visit neighbouring cities. It can be quite a drive to the larger cities, so plan ahead.
Hopefully, the bars of La Calahorra will suit your needs. Friendly locals usually staff them, though a Spanish/English dictionary may be necessary for communication. The food and drinks are worthy of sampling!
Summary:One of the most beautiful areas in the province of Granada, La Calahorra will please many. Vibrant colours of the surrounding fauna, dramatic mountain ranges, and breathtaking buildings provide the picturesque surroundings that will please both artists and photographers alike.
With plenty to see, La Calahorra is a destination for both young and old.
Useful Business Links for La Calahorra:Do you offer a service in this area? If so, why not put a link here directly to your website. Contact Ask Olive today. |
