An interesting place to buy handmade sweets and pastries is from nuns at the convents of Granada.  

Discover one of Andalucía’s sweetest traditions — Dulces de Convento. Across the region, nuns bake handmade cakes, biscuits, pastries, and sweets crafted from centuries-old recipes, often with Moorish origins.

The crumbly Christmas cookies collectively known as mantecados, which you will see in the months leading up to Christmas, individually wrapped and sold either by weight, or in a box, are made in a town located in the eastern part in Seville province, Estepa.

The monastery was originally founded in Santa Fé by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella during the reconquest of Granada. Following this success it was relocated to the city centre. Construction of this Renaissance Roman Catholic monastery and church began in 1504 and 1519 respectively.

Seville is a city rich with convents and monasteries. Groups of nuns scuttle down the streets going around their daily business and school girls, dressed in smart plaid skirts and shirts walk in single file throughout the city. Although there is restricted entry to many of the convents, most are inhabited by closed religious orders.

This large, walled complex of honey-coloured stone buildings, situated on the Isla la Cartuja (named after the monastery itself; the word means “charterhouse”), has seen many ups and downs during its long, dramatic history. From monks who welcomed Christopher Columbus, to barracks for Napoleon’s troops, ceramic factory run by an Englishman producing world-renowned porcelain, to modern-day contemporary art gallery and open-air live music venue.

La Soledad hermitage on Calle Jesús de la Pasión was first erected in the early 1500s as a church for the neighbouring Hospital de la Misericordia, which was founded in 1516. From 1854 the hermitage was used as a school and a hospital.

Walk up the hill from the bullring, and you will soon find yourself at the foot of a wide flight of stone steps leading to the imposing wooden doors of the Merced Carmelite Convent. The first Carmelites were male hermits, former pilgrims and crusaders who gathered together in 1155 AD at Mount Carmel in Palestine, close by the fountain of Elijah, and dedicated themselves to a life of austerity, poverty and prayer.

Park the car on the highest floor of the underground car park under the Paseo de Andalucia at the entrance to the town. There is also a lower entrance to the car park on the Avenida Duque de Arcos which follows the river at the bottom of the escarpment.

Medina Sidonia is an unspoilt, ancient hilltop town, little-known despite its important history. The town was one of Spain's most important ducal seats in the 15th century; producing an admiral who led the Spanish Armada against England. The title of Duque de Medina Sidonia was bestowed upon the family of Guzmán El Bueno.

The Convento de Santa Isabel la Real was founded by Queen Isabella of Castile after Granada was conquered, on the site of the Moorish Palace of Dar al-Horra, a small part of which still exists.