Being one of the most popular towns in Granada province due to its fascinating history and cultural gems, it is no surprise that Guadix has a large selection of hotels and accommodation options. The hotels in Guadix are traditional and stylish, with everything from luxury accommodation to traditional Spanish guesthouses.
Many of the inhabitants of Guadix live underground, in cave houses. In the winter they are covered with snow and keep their warmth, providing delightful places to stay, often with their own fireplaces inside. In the summer, they keep cool and can provide great relief from the sun. Some even have private swimming pools.
Cascamorras festival in Guadix and Baza has been declared Fiesta de Interés Turístico Internacional (Festival of International Tourism interest) due to its intriguing history. Although the festival is relatively little-known outside Granada province, by latest estimates up to 20,000 people take part, running through the streets and covering each other in black olive oil in Baza and coloured paste in Guadix.
The cathedral town of Gaudix is well off the beaten path, in the eastern confines of the Province of Granada, a large, bustling country town with a personality all of its own. Its history dates back to Phoenician and Roman times, and it played a major role in the Reconquest. The most interesting feature of the Guadix area is that many of the inhabitants of this large town live underground, in the southern part of the town.
Guadix is considered the ‘European Capital of Caves’ due to its 2,000 underground dwellings spread across 200 hectares. Around 4,500 residents still live in these cave houses, which maintain a constant temperature year-round and offer peace and quiet thanks to their natural clay insulation. The caves are easily accessible from the town centre.
The Cathedral of Guadix, built on the so-called ‘Sacred Hill’, stands on the site of a former Visigothic cathedral and later an Arab mosque. Constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries, it is the town’s most important monument, combining Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. Its most famous feature is the Puerta de San Torcuato, with its tall bell tower visible from anywhere in the town.
The Palacio de Villalegre is one of Guadix’s most emblematic buildings. Built by the Fernández de Córdoba family on the site of a former Muslim residence, it later passed through several noble families. Over the centuries, it has served as a Civil Guard barracks, a tenement house and local police headquarters. It is located on Calle Santa María del Buen Aire.
The Church of Santiago, designed by the architect and sculptor Diego de Siloé, is one of the most beautiful examples of religious architecture in Guadix. Built on the model of a traditional Mudejar temple, it features a monumental Renaissance portal, whitewashed walls, and a ceramic spire. It is located in Plaza Santiago.
The Casa Consistorial, or Town Hall, represents the transformation of Guadix into a true Renaissance city. Originally built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it centralised political power around the main square. After being destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, it was rebuilt in 1949. It is located in the Plaza de la Constitución.
The Church and Convent of La Concepción, dating back to 1655, is one of the oldest in Guadix. Despite suffering several fires, it retains its original 16th-century structure with a central cloister and arched galleries. Beneath the street lie the remains of Roman baths from the city’s ancient past. It is located on Calle Concepción.
The Palacio de Peñaflor belonged to the Pérez de Barradas family, Marquesses of Cortes and Graena, who settled in Guadix after the Reconquista. The building is currently being considered for conversion into the town’s future museum. It is located on Calle Barradas.
The Church of La Magdalena, located in the historic neighborhood of the same name, holds great historical and architectural value. Built from the mid-16th century on the site of the former Mozarabic community, it preserves Mudejar features such as wooden roofs and a typical Accitan bell tower, as well as a Baroque portal from 1621. Recently restored, it now houses the Diocesan Archive of Guadix and part of the town’s treasures.
The Antigua Lonja, or Old Exchange, once served as a centre for business meetings, commercial transactions and banking in Guadix. Today, only the façade remains, featuring the coat of arms of Charles V, indicating that the building was constructed between 1530 and 1550. It is located on Calle Ancha.
The Roman Theatre of Colonia Iulia Gemella Acci is one of Guadix’s most remarkable archaeological sites. Built in the early 1st century AD, the theatre formed part of a monumental complex covering almost 6,000 m² and served as a leisure space for the Roman colony founded by Julius Caesar. It is located on Avenida Mariana Pineda.
The city of Guadix has been inhabited since the mid-second millennium BC, and continues to be so to this day. Caesar founded the Ivlia Gemella Acci colony in 45 BC, shortly after the Battle of Munda, to house veterans of the Regio Prima Uernacula and the Regio Secunda. This settlement had a Hippodamian plan with fundamental axes known as the cardus and the decumanus. These axes can still be seen in the city today and have shaped the medieval and modern city.
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a plunge pool, city view and a patio, Cueva La Ermita II is situated in Guadix. The property has quiet street views. The holiday home features a picnic area, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi is available throughout the property.
