10 reasons to visit the Poniente of Granada:

1. The Poniente area of Granada is a new, up and coming tourist attraction, far from other busy destinations.
2. It is strategically placed in the heart of Andalucía, which permits our visitors to be near the coast and also near other Andalucían tourist attractions.
3. It has five monumental locations which are very important and has an archaeological park of great tourist value.
4. It has a great variety of different scenery, including a Natural park, the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama mountain range.
5. Its good road network means easy driving, and the A-92 motorway (Granada - Seville) is readily accessible and provides staightforward access to both Malaga and Granada airports.
6. There are a variety of places in which to stay - from hotels to camp sites.
7. In the area you can find many traditional food dishes as well as a good selection of foreign foods.
8. In the area there are festive and cultural celebrations with national prestige.
9. A wide range of activities is available in the area - from fishing to riding a donkey!
10. Our aim is to offer our visitors the best possible holiday.

What is there to see? In the municipal area of Arenas del Rey, to which the lake Los Bermejales belongs, a wide range of sports is available. In the surrounding areas of Arenas de Rey you will have the opportunity to enjoy the old paths and lanes that join the villages and show you the rich, untouched landscapes of the region. These will leave you with lasting memories.

Part of the grand European track GR-7 E-4, which consist of old forgotten lanes and tracks, goes past the municipal area of Arenas de Rey to the nearby village of Jayena. In between the olives and almonds you will find a massive forest which is part of the Natural Park. You will also see the river beds of the rivers "Añales" and "Cacín".

From the view point of "La Resinera" you can begin a walk that takes you into a small forest of pine trees, next to the old industrial site "La Resinera". It is an easy walk, which includes breath taking views. You can see the rivers "Cebollón" and "Cacín", as well as the tops of the mountain range "La Almijara". At the end of the walk you will also have the opportunity to visit the information point of this projected area.

The ascent to the "Cerro de los Moriscos" is one of the most appreciated paths for mountaineers. During the climb you can observe old examples of pine trees anchored in this enormous area of limestone rocks. At the summit you will see an old military fort and you will be surprised by the splendid views. On the descent you will see mountain goats, which are one of the joys of this area.

In the pass to Cómpeta, history and nature combine to make the scenery a natural gem in the area. Ancient pines and old passes cross in front of the track that leads to the pass to Cómpeta. Once again you will see magnificent views of the mountain range "Alimjara" and "Tejeda". Also on the way down you will find many typical produce from the area.

Back at lake "Los Bermejales", and under the shade of the pine trees, you will see a wide range of birds. The blue of the lake and the green of the mountains that are around, give the whole area a natural beauty. With the Natural Park as the back drop, this offers visitors a stunning view in the area.

A walk around Alhama de Granada - a town perfectly located, where legend is believed to be reality. It has an "impregnable" fort, placed of the edge on an immense gorge, which was conquered by the catholic kings in 1482. Going past the Arabic baths is a total delight for the senses. After entering by the "Jovellar" mountains, you will find the door to the old city wall which gives access to the Arabic part of the town. You will come across two monuments in Alhama: the Castle built on the site of the original Arabic castle, and the Church of Carmen built in renaissance and baroque style. They are next to the immense gorge. The flat streets take you to the "Angustias" Church. From there you can see the dungeons, excavated by muslins in the rock and, again, the old fort wall, and the "Caño Wamba" with its coat of arms from the catholic kings and Carlos I. The Queens Hospital was the first hospital of its kind in Granada. Its roof demonstrates a beautiful Mudejar framework. In the "Presos" square, the heart of the old quarter, you will find the old Jail and grounds, and the warehouse where wheat is now stored on top of the old XIII centuary synagogue. You then arrive at the Church of Encarnación, the precious gem of Alhama. Ordered to be built over a mosque during the catholic kings reign and built in a gothic style, its silhouette brings shade over the top of the village. The street "Adarve de los Remedios", where the rest of the citys old wall is conserved, takes us to the Arabic quarters, where you can visit the Convent of San Diego, which is in a baroque style and presents an "Immaculate Virgin", created by Alonso of Mena.

A special mention for the lovers of archaeological spots - the "Peña de los Gitano" (Montefrío), where ecological value comes together with culture and is of great relevance to archaeological findings, as shown in the mountains of "Martilla".

Festivities in the area of Poniente: Festivals and processions, parties and traditions are enjoyed by the people of Poinente in Granada all year round. There are unusual traditions like the four "Idiots" in the festival of "San Sebastian" in Montefrio where people dress up in eccentric ways. In the "Canderlaria" festival fire plays an important role and, during May there are floral display and floral crosses. On the day of "San Antón" in Moclín they sacrifice a small pig, in the festival of Alhama de Granda they offer a special dish and wine from the area and in Montefrio they celebrate the day of the "Señor de las Roscas" with special ring shaped bread rolls. We also can not forget the annual festivals and celebrations like the play "Va de Calle" in Loja, the festival "Parapanda Folk" in Ílora or the descent of the canoe in Huétor-Tajar.

Where to eat? To create a good dish it is important to use the finest food of the highest quality. The Poniente area is not short of trout and sturgeon from the River Riofrío, home made goats cheese from Montefrío and Játar, wine and mushrooms from Alhama de Granada, asparagus from Huétor-Tájar, and tomatoes and vegetables from the flat land in Zafarraya, as well as baked Moorish food from Loja. In all the area there is always great local wine, olive oil and all the cuts of pork. Healthy and natural foods are available from which to cook a variety of good foods which suit everyones taste. You can even enjoy these foods in three local restaurants, also in the surrounding villages of Arenas de Rey, Jatar, Jayena and Alhama de Granada - where you can also buy a selection of typical deserts and cakes. For afternoon tea you could try the famous almonds that are only grown here.

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