Sunday 30 August 2015

Free to visit in Granada each saturday

Three monuments can now be visited for free each saturday in Granada. These monuments are: The Bañuelo, Casa del Horno de Oro, and the Palace of Dar al Horra.


The Bañuelo (eleventh century). Carrera del Darro 31

An Arab public bath. It is one of the oldest and best preserved in Spain. It was built in the time of the Taifa Ziri. Opposite the remains of the old bridge of Cadi. Other authors cite it as "bath Palaces" oe "l bath Guadix Gate".

It was called Hammam al-Jawza, it was the bath of the Axares neighborhood (low Albayzin). It has been declared of cultural interest. It was open until the time when Felipe II decided to close it, regarding it as sinful space. Today is accessed through a remodeled Christian home.

Its premises are the changing room, the cold room, the warm room and the hot room. The whole bathroom is covered with star vaults and octagonal skylights to vent and give light. They could be opened and closed to regulate the steam inside.



El Bañuelo


La Casa del Horno de Oro (late fifteenth century) C / Horno del Oro, 14.
Located in the Albayzín, in the "neighborhood Axares

With the changes that were made in the sixteenth century, the Casa del Horno del Oro, is a good example of Moorish house, where both Islamic as Castilian elements are integrated.

Contrasts the simplicity of its exterior amd the intimate character with the beautiful harmony of its interior architecture. As a hispanic-musulman house, the building is centered by a rectangular courtyard with a pool. In the shorter sides are the rooms. The plaster arch that leads to the south room upstairs is from the original construction. A precious polychrome armor covers this room.

Casa del Horno de Oro



Palace of Dar Al-Horra. (XV century palace built on an zirí eleventh century).
Callejon de las Monjas, in the high Albaicin.

The name "Dar Al-Horra" means "House of the Honest".

This was the last house where the Sultana Aixa, wife of Muley and mother of the last king, Boabdil lived. Outside the perimeter of the Alhambra, Palace of Dar Al-Horra, is the clearest example of Moorish palatial architecture by its structure and decor. It has, like all Andalusian houses, a central courtyard with pool, around this the different rooms are distributed.

The most interesting part is the north gate as its viewpoint allows to see a beautiful view of San Cristobal Hill and the western part of Granada. Plasterwork inscriptions reveal the privacy of this house, "blessing", "happiness", "health is life" and "the blessing continues". This palace, was part of a huge estate with gardens and orchards. Isabel the Catholic gave the garden and farm to found the Convent of Santa Isabel la Real.

Patio Dar al Horra

Visiting hours of the monuments:

- From September 15 to March 31 from 10:00 to 17:00.
- From 1 April to 14 September: from 9:30 to 14:30 and 17:00 to 21:00.

More articles about Granada:
About the Madraza
About the Lions of the Alhambra
Monument of Max Moreau
Where to see flamenco

General information for your Iphone; iSpain


Sunday 23 August 2015

New historicTrain in Andalusia: Train Ventas de Zafarraya

A replica on small scale of the train known as El Tren del Llano, which connected formerly Malaga with Ventas de Zafarraya is now operating a a tourist train on a scenic track.

History
In 1905 the ‘Ferrocarriles Suburbanos de Malaga’ train company was established with one main mission - to connect Malaga city to Granada. In 1922 the final 31 kilometre stage, from Vélez-Málaga to Ventas de Zafarraya, which had taken 12 years to complete due to the impossibly steep terrain was completed.

In those days it took nearly 5 hours to arrive from Málaga to Ventas de Zafarraya.
But by 1959 with harsh competition from new roads and efficient bus services the train ceased to operate.

Revival
Now an initiative of the owner of the old hotel 'La Estación' Francisco Moreno and an engineer of Mare, a company dedicated to save moribund but scenic trainroutes from disappearing, has made that you can enjoy now the new Tren el Llano and visit the museum in the cellars of the hotel with memorabilia from the former train and the hotel.
In the bar and pastry shop Gloria you can remember the old times by all the old photos decorating the walls enjoying a coffee or having a drink.
Hotel Estación de Zafarraya, now bar and pastry shop Gloria.

Information

The train runs nowadays only when there are organised excursions.
You can book through SOHA or calling Francisco Moreno, tel 687547221


Tren del Llano

See for more information: El Tren del Llano or Sohapi

Museo Tren del Llano

Thanks to the information provided by El Sur in English, 14 august 2015