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Granada · Mysteries & legends

Legends in the shadow of the Alhambra

Granada has a legend on every slope, and many of them were born, or became famous, thanks to an American traveller. This route walks down from the Alhambra woods to the Realejo and the city centre, separating at each stop what the documents say from what people have told for centuries. It is ideal for late afternoon: it ends right by the tapas streets of the centre.

  • 6 stops
  • 2.3 km
  • 2 h
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Hand carved on a marble plaque at the keystone of the arch of the Gate of Justice

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Pomegranate Gate (Puerta de las Granadas)A triumphal arch built under Charles V marks the entrance to the woods where the legends of the Alhambra begin.
  2. 2 Statue of Washington IrvingThe American writer who lived in the Alhambra and filled it with princesses, treasures and astrologers.
  3. 3 Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia)A hand carved on the arch, a key further in, and a prophecy: when they touch, the Alhambra will fall.
  4. 4 Campo del Príncipe and the Cristo de los FavoresEvery Good Friday at three in the afternoon, thousands of locals gather here to ask a stone cross for three favours.
  5. 5 Casa de los TirosA palace with muskets on its battlements, stone heroes and a sword thrust through a heart.
  6. 6 Plaza de Bib-RamblaTournaments, bullfights, a bonfire of books and a gate that ended up in the woods: Granada’s square with the most lives.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Legends in the shadow of the Alhambra

In the footsteps of Washington Irving

The author of Tales of the Alhambra turned the stories of the locals into a book read halfway around the world.

Prophecies and sighs

The hand and the key on the Gate of Justice, Boabdil’s last farewell and the real origin of his mother’s most famous words.

Faith and riddles on the street

A Christ who is asked for three favours, a palace with a pierced heart and a demolished gate that reappeared in the woods.

Keep exploring

More routes in Granada

Back to Granada
HistoryFrom the Zirids to Lorca: a thousand years of Granada MixedGranada highlights: from the cathedral to the viewpoint

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Granada?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Granada in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Granada in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Granada in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary