Excursion to Alam de Granada

Excursion to Alam de Granada

The name Alam comes from the Arabic Al-Hama - bath, because it is in the vicinity of this town, with a population of 6000 people, there are famous thermal springs. The Arabs appreciated their dignity and spared no effort to finish the baths. They were built by the Arabs in the 13th century on the ruins of Roman baths.

The thermal spring has a temperature of +38C and its waters are saturated with many useful salts. Thermal waters act on the skin with sedative, restorative effects, have painkilling, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties.

Now these baths are on the territory of the hotel complex. You can stay in a hotel room, or you can come and just visit these baths (it will cost from 15 to 18 euros). But it is possible and free - the source of thermal waters flows into the river and in this place the locals have equipped public baths for everyone. They look, of course, more modest than the Arab ones, but the waters themselves do not get worse.

But I must say a few words about the town of Alam de Granada. The main historical events here are associated with the Reconquista - the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Arabs.

On February 28, 1482, the city was captured by the troops of Christian kings (Fernando and Isabel the Catholics). Later it was subjected to several sieges by the Nazarenes. But the greatest damage to the city was caused by the earthquake that occurred on December 25, 1884. The provinces of Granada and Malaga were severely affected by this earthquake.

You might ask, "Is that all there is to say about this town?" There are thousands of them in Spain!

No, not all! The town itself stands on the edge of a sheer abyss - the huge canyon of Los Tajos. This canyon is a picturesque place. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the local authorities do nothing to make it a tourist attraction of their city. There were no observation decks, promenades and cafes. It just left everything as it is! Can you imagine that? I don't! But it is nonetheless true.

A stream runs down the bottom of the canyon. Once it stood the mills and milling factories of La Purísima and San Francisco (their ruins stand at the bottom of the canyon). In this stream, women were washing clothes. In the natural caves and grottoes of the canyon, pens and cages were arranged for small and large cattle. Why am I talking in the past tense? And now the locals also continue to use these caves and grottoes. From the canyon up into the city, you can climb the steps carved into the rock - the Devil's Staircase (escalerillas del diablo).

The surrounding fields were irrigated with an aqueduct built in the 16th century. A bridge is thrown across the river, built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. The old prison of the time of Carlos II - 1674 years of construction. The house of the Inquisition of the time of Isabel the Catholic is surrounded by all this and live a measured life of local residents. However, this measured life is often pleasantly violated ... holidays (fiestas). Here and its own Carnival, and the feast of wine, and the Great September Feria, and La Candelaria, during which the medieval streets of the city are illuminated by numerous bonfires (candela - bonfire).

Well? Have you ever wanted to live in Alam de Granada?