Hotel Casa de Federico
Granada
Owner Paula has obviously done her best here! Hotel Casa de Federico is the type of hotel where you can already see if you come walking up to it that a lot of time and energy has been put into making this place something special. And Paula has totally succeeded! The building in which the hotel is established has really been completely restored up to the minutest detail, with here and there a wink to the Moorish times.
The name of the hotel refers to the writer and poet Federico Garcia Lorca and many artists from all over Andalusia have contributed to the decoration of the hotel.
It has a splendid facade, a gorgeous lounge and attractive, lively chambers. Within the entire hotel, in fact, you will find lots of fresh and lively colours that give you a very happy feeling. Fifteen rooms, which are not super-large but sufficient, have been very well maintained and decorated in an original matter. Big beds!
All the way up (also to be reached by lift) is the beautiful roof terrace with a spectacular view of the cathedral and behind it the familiar sight of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada so closely associated with Granada.
This hotel does not have a restaurant, but of course (a delicious!!) breakfast is served. No need to panic, however, because whichever side of the hotel you leave from, within a few minutes you have a wide choice of great restaurants.
The location of the hotel is also ideal, on a quiet street next to the centre. So you can let your car rest for a few days, because everything is within walking distance.
Once again, it’s a super-nice and fresh hotel that left us with a great feeling when we stepped outside. And isn't that what it's all about?
Cons:
• Just like with most hotels in Granada, parking is not really convenient here. However, there are lots of public garages within walking distance.
• Rooms not very big, but sufficient
Pros:
• The hotel is very lively and freshly designed
• Beautifully decorated
• Location is perfect for visiting the city with truly all attractions within walking distance, yet the hotel is situated on a quiet side street
• Spectacular views from the roof terrace
Hotel Casa de Federico
surrounding area
Granada
Anyone visiting Granada will have heard of the Alhambra, the city’s main attraction. The Alhambra was the part of town where princes, nobility and court staff dwelled, on the hill right in the middle of Granada. The Alhambra is a huge complex, 720m in length and 220m wide. Clever use of space, light, water and decorative features are the Alhambra’s defining features. A miniature town in its own right, a world of palaces, beautiful gardens with ponds and fountains, a fortress, baths, museums, a church, and even a hotel.
The Generalife, to the north of the Alhambra, was the Nasrid sultans' country retreat. They would find some welcome relief from the intrigue at the court here, and enjoy some peace and quiet. Generalife translates as ‘the garden of heavenly paradise’.
On the hill opposite the Alhambra, the Albayzín quarter, is where Granada’s Moorish past is still most tangible. Stroll around its narrow streets, past villas with Moorish decoration and gardens, up to the Mirador de San Nicolás. This is where you will have the best views, of the roofs of Granada, with the Alhambra behind them, which makes for a stunning view, especially at sunset!
When you get tired of strolling, you can take an Arab bath at one of Granada's 2 hammans, the Aljibe Baños Arabes or the Hamman Baños Arabes.
And Granada also happens to be one of the hippest cities in Andalucía, with great nightlife, lively flamenco shows and tapas culture.
Granada is also a good place to learn Spanish or take dancing lessons.
Active
At about 40 km from the city of Granada you will find the Sierra Nevada ski resort. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has the highest peaks in Europe, after the Alps. In Pradollano, at 2100 metres, there is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, with around 70 pistes (mainly blue and red ones), with a total length of 80 km.
During the summer months you can go for walks here.
Cultural
Granada is a cultural city, with plenty on offer! Be sure to catch the Alhambra and the Generalife (it is recommended to reserve tickets well before you head for Granada, because the number of visitors admitted every day is limited to a maximum).
Anyone with an interest in Spanish literature will have heard of Federico García Lorca. This world famous poet and playwright is closely intertwined with Granada. His birthplace in Fuente Vaqueros, about 20km west of Granada, is open to the public. And there is also the Lorca Museum, the Huerta de San Vicente, an estate on the edge of Granada.
And to top it all off, Granada also makes for a great destination for shopping, and to take in a few flamenco shows.
Family
The Parque de las Ciencias is a great place to introduce children to science. You will find it 2 km south of Granada. There are numerous activities on offer here. Including experiments that let you experience, for example, what it is like to be inside a beehive or a mini-tornado.
The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Guadix (55km; 50min):
The ‘Barrio de las Cuevas’ (cave-dwellers quarter), with 2000 caves, which have been inhabited for centuries, is the main attraction of this town. A museum has been established in one of the cave dwellings near the church, in order to give you a good idea of what life in such a house is like.
Alhama de Granada (60km; 1h):
Alhama de Granada is beautifully situated, balancing on sprawling rocks over a gorge, and it has a compact, nicely renovated Moorish centre. The village received its name, derived from the word alhamma, from the hot springs that you can still visit at the Hotel Balneario on the edge of the village.
In the higher part of the village, behind the Iglesia del Carmen church, a plateau offers stunning views of the deep gorge of the Alhama river.
And you can, of course, head for one of the other 2 world famous cities for a day trip:
Córdoba (240km; 2h45min):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.
Seville (250km; 3h):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar.
You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.