1 Bedroom Cottage in Alhama De Granada

This recently restored cottage is in the old Arab Quarter of Alhama de Granada & is very close to the impressive Church of the Incarnation which can be seen dominating the whole town from a distance. It is also a very short walk to the edge of the gorge with its spectacular views.  
 
Alhama de Granada perches dramatically on top of a huge rocky spur and overlooks a breath-taking gorge with the Alhama River flowing beneath. This picturesque Andalusian town in Southern Spain which is about 50 km from both Granada and the Mediterranean coast has a distinctive Moorish flavour.  
 
The town’s attractive Moorish quarter (Barrio Arabe) is well-preserved with its steep and narrow streets and numerous fountains. There are several notable buildings all clearly labelled, such as the House of the Inquisition, The Deposit House, the Queen’s Hospital started in 1485 with its typical indoor Andalusian patio, not to mention the Church of the Incarnation which dominates the whole town. 
 
 
This whitewashed village has been known since Moorish times for its beauty and natural thermal waters which can reach 47°C, although the thermal spa has been in use since Roman times. The name of the town is derived from “al-hamma” which means “hot spring” in Arabic.  
 
Only 5km away from Alhama is the beautiful scenic Lake Bermejales which provides swimming and other water sports for all the family. You can often have the lake all to yourself during the daytime. However at weekends and in the summer evenings the locals can be found relaxing and having a picnic on the beach. 
 
The Sierra Nevada Mountains with their spectacular scenery are around 1½ hour’s drive away. During the winter there are sufficient runs to satisfy all standards of skier and snow boarder. 
 
Granada's Alhambra is a bus ride away. This magnificent collection of buildings which include a palace, a citadel and a fort, as well as the Generalife gardens, was recently nominated for the new Seven Wonders of the World and is Spain’s most visited attraction. As there is so much to see there it is advisable to arrive early and spend the whole day, preferably with a tour guide to show you around at least some of the buildings. There are 8000 tickets available per day, with most being pre-sold weeks or even months in advance. It is therefore strongly recommended that you book in advance.  
 
The surrounding countryside has lots of areas of interest to walkers, cyclists, sight-seers, market-lovers, and bird watchers. The Sierra Tejeda is on the doorstep, along with the breathtaking Gorge of the Tajos river just a stone’s throw from the cottage, Casa Azul. 

The accommodation, all on one floor, consists of a double bedroom with original beamed ceiling, modern bathroom with bath and shower, kitchen with electric hob and microwave, and a lounge-diner with sofa-bed, again with attractive original beams, with French doors leading out onto the secluded courtyard decorated with typical Andalusian tiles. Due to the traditional thick stone walls, Casa Azul provides a cool retreat from the baking midday sun, although in the winter months the wood-burner will keep the house cosy. The house is perfect for a couple searching for a quiet escape - sometimes the only sounds to be heard are the bells of the sheep and goats as the local shepherd brings them past the end of the road on their way back from grazing in the gorge, and the delightful contrast of the chiming church bells.

At the nearby lake there are facilities for water sports. The Sierra Nevada with its many ski/snow-boarding runs is open from November to April and caters for all standards. 
There is an excellent local company which organises outdoor activities such as rock-climbing, abseiling, hiking, mountain-biking etc.