Designated a natural park in 1989, the 12,128ha Sierra de Huétor is only a few kilometres northeast of the provincial capital of Granada, so it is a popular weekend destination for city dwellers. The mountainous area has dramatic geological features characteristic of limestone areas, with narrow ravines, steep cliffs, springs and caves, such as the Cueva del Agua.
Designated a natural park in 1989, this rugged and spectacular limestone mountainous region in the north of Granada province, adjacent to the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park and part of the Sierras Bética, is exceptional for its geological features, with a dramatically eroded landscape of gorges, vertical cliffs, waterfalls and, below ground, numerous caves.
In the northeast of Granada province adjacent to neighbouring Almeria is the sparsely populated 53,649ha Sierra de Baza Natural Park, part of the Cordillera Penibética. Its steep slopes are mainly pine-clad, up to the more barren, rocky ground over 2,000m. Its central part is made up of remote, jagged limestone peaks, which can be snow covered for some of the winter and are inhabited by majestic birds of prey.
The Sierra Nevada is a dramatic, rugged and extensive mountain range, the highest in Europe after the Alps and the most significant section of the Cordillera Penibética. The protected area encompasses 86,208ha of torrential rivers, sheer-sided gorges, stony scree slopes, glacial lakes between snowy summits and, in the foothills of the Alpujarras, cultivated terraces of almond trees and vegetables.
Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.
The region of mountain villages known as Las Alpujarras clings to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, cloven by deep, sheltered valleys and gorges which run down towards the Mediterranean. 'The Alpujarra', as it is popularly known, in the singular, is famous throughout Spain because of its unique mini-ecology.
The Cárcavas de Marchal Natural Monument is a spectacularly eroded clay massif covering 5.2ha. For many years people have been carving out caves in the Cárcavas de Marchal for habitation. Located some 55km east of Granada city, Marchal is south of Purullena, off the A92 motorway.
These magnificent waterfalls, Los Infiernos, are located just outside Loja on the Genil river and cover an area of 2.5ha. Apart from its diverse plant, bird and animal species, this stretch of river is also noteworthy for its geological features, where the river has dramatically eroded the limestone landscape to create a series of rapids and the waterfalls themselves.
The only cave open to visitors in Granada province, the 1.2km-long limestone Cueva de las Ventanas is situated 45km north of Granada and just east of Piñar village, on the road to Bogarre. The Cueva de las Ventanas (Cave of the Windows) is named after the three large opening of the cave that serve as both an entry and exit.
South of Granda, on the western edge of the Sierra Nevada National Park, is the Falla de Nigüelas. Here, it's possible to see how a fault line (falla) caused a massive landslide during the Quarternary period. The Falla itself covers 7.6ha.
On the southern edge of the Sierra Castril Natural Park is this spectacular and exceptional rocky outcrop, the Peña de Castril, which looms large over the whitewashed houses of Castril village. Covering a mere 3.52ha, the rocky crag has the remains of a Medieval castle, which has had its towers and walls recently restored, and unsurpassed views over the countryside around Castril.
In the foothills of the Sierra Almijara on Granada's Costa Tropical is the seaside resort of Almuñécar, with a dramatic coastline of plunging cliff faces, secluded coves with beaches tucked away between steep cliffs and a smattering of jagged Peñónes (rocky outcrops) just off Almuñécar beach.
Andalucia is not alone in its quest for the convenience of large out-of-town shopping centres or commercial centres ( centros comerciales) . Over the past five years shopping centres in Andalucia have become increasingly prevalent and in Andalucia today they form an integral part of most peoples’ shopping experience.
Hospitals in Granada Province
In Granada province the most emblematic gardens in Granada are those of the Alhambra and Generalife.
In Granada province is one of Andalucia's two national parks, the Sierra Nevada, a mountainous region containing the two highest peaks in the Iberian Peninsula and whose summits are often snow-capped. This is the place to come if you're into rock climbing, mountaineering, skiing or, for the less energetic, botany, since the park harbours an incredible array of rare and endemic plants.
Golf Courses in Córdoba, Granada & Jaén provinces include Club de Campo de Córdoba, Los Moriscos, Granada Club de Golf, Club de Golf Pozoblanco and Santa Clara Club Granada .
The smallest waterpark in Granada, located near the provincial capital itself, with just nine rides, but this is enough to keep all ages cooled, refreshed and entertained, including tiny tots who have a pirate ship complete with various water slides.
Cut the asparagus into 4-5 centimeter lengths. Cook them in boiling salted for 8 minutes and drain, reserving the liquid. Heat the oil in an earthenware cazuela. Fry the garlic and slices of bread until golden, then remove them from the pan. In the same oil, fry the drained asparagus.
The Costa Tropical of Granada province consists of particularly picturesque beaches, and is far less crowded than its popular neighbour, the Costa del Sol. The coast comprises of a number of popular destinations.
