Guide to Granada’s secret corners: Stories, water, and legends told by its own people
Contenidos
Guides That Tell Living Stories
The best travel guides are those written by the very inhabitants of a city. In these pages, stories spring to life, while hidden corners emerge as part of an intimate and authentic narrative. Such guides invite visitors to embrace the place as if it were their own. At the same time, they allow locals—often unaware of the traces left by their ancestors—to reconnect with and rediscover their roots.
This is why we are delighted by the inclusion of Hammam Al Ándalus Granada in César Requesens’ book, Granada Insólita y Secreta, part of the “Guides Written by the Inhabitants” collection published by JonGlez.
Water: A Historical Protagonist
César Requesens dedicates several pages to one of our most beloved subjects: water, an honorary citizen of Granada since ancient times. In the chapter Las Tacas de la Alhambra, he writes, “water was a luxury abundantly available to the desert tribes who lived in Granada, as shown by the great number of fountains, pools, and irrigation channels that adorn the site.”
Among its various purposes, the Tacas were used for purification ablutions—rituals performed before Muslim prayer, during which believers washed their hands and rinsed their mouths, evoking the water of paradise’s pond.
Hidden Settings and Legends
This book offers vivid stories of Granada, yet from a fresh perspective: it focuses on lesser-known corners that deserve to be rediscovered. One such treasure is the Water Staircase in the Generalife gardens, a favorite spot of Federico García Lorca and Manuel de Falla. Today, thick vegetation almost conceals it from view. This staircase once led to a small oratory at the highest point of the grounds, where “the celestial song of the stream blends with the fragrance of the laurel along the path.”
The Tunnel of the Rey Chico
Another secret brought to light is the Tunnel of the Rey Chico. This three-meter-high underground gallery lies hidden beneath brambles and climbing plants. Only the sound and glimmer of a side waterfall, spilling into the river, reveal its presence—signaling the entrance to this passage beneath the building of the same name.
Hammam Al Ándalus in Its Pages
Granada Insólita y Secreta also finds space for our own stories. One chapter is devoted to our chess championship in the water, held every November beneath the Torre de la Vela. “It offers the unique opportunity to play a match while submerged in warm waters and under soft lighting,” notes Requesens, comparing the experience to the tradition of Budapest’s baths.
A Tradition That Expands
Our hammams in Córdoba, Madrid, and Málaga also receive mention. Requesens recalls that our Granada location was the first to open, back in the 1990s. Since then, the growing popularity of the hammam has encouraged its presence in other cities as well.
Just as the author felt compelled to share the hidden corners of the Nasrid capital, we have sought to give people in other cities the chance to experience living history—and to enjoy the unique health and wellness benefits that the hammam offers.
