Alhama de Granada – Old Town

Alhama de Granada arose in prehistoric times due to the attractiveness of its thermal waters and its strategic position. The monumentality of its Arab neighborhood and the noble and religious buildings, make this a city of special tourist attraction.

Within its Arab neighborhood we find the Plaza de los Presos, in the historic center of the city, on which the city revolved, where the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación, the old prison and the Granary (former synagogue) are located.

The Church of Santa María de la Encarnación is of Gothic style, although it has Renaissance additions. The architectural volume of its mass is surprising, highlighted by being located on the highest part of the old city. It is constituted by a single and ample nave covered by vaults of Gothic ribs and a major chapel in its head, located under the great bell tower of 35 meters of height.

The Real Cárcel of Alhama was built in 1674 as a prison and the original stone shield with the coat of arms of Alhama stands out on its facade. The jail was part of the old complex of the Casas Consistoriales, located to the right of them.

The Granary was built in the first half of the 16th century and was used to store grain. It preserves its original stone facade, as well as the city’s coat of arms. Inside, you can still see some thick pillars of circular section, which served as a support for the weight of the cereal on the upper floor.