The Centro de Interpretación del Sacromonte facing the world famous Alhambra, offers, in addition to permanent accessible exhibitions relating to the history and evolution of the cave settlers, live Flamenco dancing shows in an open air stage.

The Sacromonte, the traditional gypsy area of Granada, is situated in a hill facing the Alhambra. Caves have always been the traditional accommodation in the Sacromonte, even if the origin is not certain. They must have been built in the 16th century when Muslims and Jews were evicted from their houses; nomadic gypsies joined them then. Thus, caves became the new dwelling for marginal people in the surroundings of the city, far from the authority and the ecclesiastical order. In order to create an inhabitable cave, you have to clear the part of the hill you want to dig: you get a vertical section which forms the façade. Then, you build and arch (the door) and as many rooms as you need, if the site allows for it. Forms and size depend on the site, the altitude and the hill slope, so each cave is unique!

The legend tells that after Granada was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs, many Arab noblemen fled to Africa; as they hoped that one day they would return to the city they hid their fortunes in holes under the olive trees which once covered these Valparaiso hills. Their black African slaves were left behind, they knew of their masters' concerns about their money and had noticed their comings and goings to and from Valparaiso (as Sacromonte was then called). So they started to look for their former masters' treasures. They dug and dug into the hillsides of this gully, but without success (as far as we know). As time went on they made their home in these caves. And that is how this area got its name, Blackmen´s Gully (Barranco de los Negros).

El Centro de Interpretación del Sacromonte (the Visitors Centre in Sacromonte) is situated in Barranco de los Negros, facing the Alhambra and in the heart of this old historical quarter. It is a special enclave with a group of caves that have great historical value, which are set within a natural landscape and is surrounded by monuments of great beauty: the valley known as valle del Darro Valparaíso, the hillside meadows of Sacromonte and the Generalife, the Nasrid wall, the Cerro del Aceituno, a fountain, fuente del Avellano and the area known as the Albaycín. Together with the local inhabitants, all of these elements have created an environment which has an unusual nature all of its own.

El Centro de Interpretación del Sacromonte is consisting of an Ethnographic Museum (accessible exhibitions relating to the history, evolution, habits and customs of the cave settlers), accessible educational areas, one of them about local fauna and flora, displaying information boards and models and including a scale model of the Darro river valley, traditional vegetable garden and two accessible itineraries: a geological itinerary and an environmental itinerary. Some of the caves are not accessible due to the very peculiar landscape and building system, still one can peer from the threshold to learn about original tools, equipment and furniture and watch what it looked like a cave home and kitchen (recreated with the basic elements that would have belonged in such an area).

Many kind of exhibitions take place in this Centre, music, theatre, dance, plastic arts, traditional craftwork, gastronomy. Films are showed on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10pm.

Outdoors areas (including a charming terrace bar where traditional food and drinks are served) are all accessible and there is an adapted toilet in the premises. There is an accessible viewpoint from where one can get amazingly impressive panoramic views of the Alhambra.

Private vehicles are not allowed in the Sacromonte from 11am to 14pm. Would you like to get to the Centro de Interpretación by your own car, you may drive in and park inside the premises, but a call in advance to let them know (to ensure that main gate is opened) is highly advisable.

Flamenco dancing shows take place every Tuesday on July and August at 10pm in the open air stage (accessible area) and admission fee to the show is 10 euros. 

Opening Schedule:
Summer: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 14pm and 17pm to 21pm
Winter: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 14pm and 16pm to 19pm

Admission fees:
Museum: 4 Euros
Panoramic View and Open Areas: 1 Euro

CENTRO DE INTERPRETACIÓN ETNOGRÁFICA Y MEDIOAMBIENTAL DEL SACROMONTE.
Barranco de los Negros s/n. 18010-Granada
Tel: (+34) 958 21 51 20
www.sacromontegranada.com
info@sacromontegranada.com

Rebecca Arce

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