The town of Padul is an ideal destination for lovers of nature and adrenalin sports. Located in the Sierra del Manar, the foothills of Sierra Nevada, the area offers visitors activities such as hiking, horse-riding, mountain-biking, paragliding and hang-gliding. Padul also has the advantage of being very close to the capital city of Granada.
Along the various routes leading to the Sierra del Manar, you can see a number of viewpoints over Sierra Nevada and the Valle de Lecrín, such as Cruz de la Atalaya. Other interesting stops are the Barranco de las Rajas, Silleta de Padul – a pine tree with five trunks and el Puerto de las Carabelas. La Laguna is an important wetland, and contains peat bogs where scientists have discovered the remains of prehistoric animals.
For hang-gliding or paragliding, one of the best places to go is Prefabricados La Romera, which you can reach from the N-323. In the Turberas de Padul area there are designated landing areas.
From an architectural point of view, there are various buildings in Padul which might be of interest to tourists. The Iglesia Parroquial de Santa María la Mayor is one of these, built in the 16th century with a Moorish style doorway. Inside, there is a beautiful baroque style altarpiece from the second half of the 18th century and another in renaissance style.
Also worth visiting is the Castillo de los Condes de Padul, a stately home from the 17th century which is similar in style to the Palacio de Carlos V in the famous Alhambra palace in Granada.
Visitors might also be interested in the Fuente de los Cinco Caños, an arcaded fountain and communal washing area from the mid 16th century, and the popular Calvario, with its large stone crosses made in the 18th century.
The residents are very proud of their old train station, which formed part of the line from Granada to the coast. A plaque commemorates the first day a train arrived in the village: 10 February 1923.
Lovers of traditional crafts will enjoy the handmade glass products made in the village.
Gastronomy
Visitors who want to get a typical taste of the paduleña diet should try choto al ajillo (veal with garlic), chuletas adobadas (marinated pork chops), embutidos (cured meats and sausages) and the many different types of tortillas, including collejas, onion or traditional ones made with potatoes or ham.
Fiestas
Las Fiestas Patronales de San Sebastián, the patron saint’s days, are on 19 and 20 January and are usually marked with a procession to the bonfire. Carnaval is in February and the Real Feria del Ganado is in September. Semana Santa is marked with the procession of the 12 stages of the cross on the night of Viernes Santo, representing some of the most important scenes from the Passion of the Christ.
Directions
Padul is 19km from Granada city. Take the A-44 (direction Armilla-Motril), then take exit 139. In the outskirts of Otura, keep left and take the Avenida de los Almendros directly to Padul.
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