landmark
Alhambra
Stunning Moorish palace and fortress complex in Granada showcasing the finest Islamic art and architecture in Europe.
7 km · about 15 min drive
Andalusia, Spain · Europe
Alfacar is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Pulianas, 27km from Sierra Nevada National Park.
Alfacar is a town located in Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 4,949, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Alfacar sits in Spain, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Madrid time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Alfacar to your route.
Alfacar is a historic town approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the city of Granada, in the autonomous Spanish region of Andalucia. In the 2005 census, INE reported its population as 5107 inhabitants.
The town is on the edge of the Sierra de Huétor Natural Park and is in a region of intensive olive production.Read more
The town is 920 metres (3,020 ft) above sea level, but the local fossil record contains marine molluscs that show the profound geological forces that have shaped the region.
The area has been occupied by humans since prehistory. A very important neolithic site - la Barranca de Las Majolicas - is within the town, and human remains, decorated ceramics, and bone tools and ornaments have been found there. Between 711 and 1492, most of Spain was governed by a series of Muslim dynasties and monarchs. We do not fully understand the origins of the name Alfacar, but in this era the Arabic name "al-Fajjar" (´the house of the potter´) was first applied to the settlement. The town was a summer retreat for the Muslim Zirite kings (1010-1090). There are few visible architectural relics from this time. The Arabs adapted the Fuente Grande to channel its waters to Granada, and the old heart of the town retains the structure of an Arab settlement.
The Christian Reconquest of Spain culminated on 2 January 1492 when Boabdil, the last Muslim king of Granada, surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. Thirteen days before, the Muslim population of Alfacar capitulated to the advancing forces. History shows that the Arab inhabitants of Alfacar continued living in relative peace under the new regime and did not participate in the subsequent unsuccessful uprising of the "Moriscos". However, this did not prevent their expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula in 1579 during the reign of Philip II, after which Alfacar was repopulated by Castillian Spanish families. An important building that dates from this period is the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady (La Iglesia de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora), built on the site of a former church that was destroyed in 1557 and in turn was situated over the foundations of a former mosque.
The town is most famous for the death of poet and dramatist, Federico García Lorca, born 1898 in nearby (23 kilometres (14 mi)) Fuente Vaqueros. On 19 August 1936, at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces detained him; he was subsequently shot during the early morning at a location between Alfacar and the neighbouring village of Víznar. The circumstances of his assassination and the location of his grave remain a controversy.
The town of Alfacar has grown considerably from its ancient centre. It has recently suffered from the economic crisis and many construction projects remain unfinished, while various businesses have been forced to close. There is evidence of regeneration with new shops and restaurants opening, and Alfacar is renowned throughout the region for its famous bakeries which probably date back to Arab times and provide many shops in Granada with fresh daily bread. Alfacar is well provided with shops, a medical centre, theatre, sports centre and many other facilities. However, what remains of the historic centre of the town is under serious threat from neglect and redevelopment. An example is the 15th-16th century Arco de Somera, an ancient store room situated above an arched alleyway, which is urgently in need of stabilization.
The countryside around Alfacar abounds with wildlife including Iberian ibex, wild cat and wild boar, and in spring one can find many species of orchids, bulbs and other wild flowers. The adjacent protected region of Sierra de Huétor has an excellent visitors centre and is a popular destination for walkers. There are extensive regenerated pine forests, large areas of native evergreen oaks and the rare Spanish conifer, Abies pinsapo, has been reintroduced here. Alfacar is also famous for the blue butterfly Lysandra bellargus ssp. alfacariensis, that was first identified in the area.
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Alfacar offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Alfacar is located in Andalusia, Spain, Europe. The coordinates are 37.2374 latitude, -3.5681 longitude.
Alfacar has a population of approximately 4,949 people, making it a town in Spain.
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Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for Spain7 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Stunning Moorish palace and fortress complex in Granada showcasing the finest Islamic art and architecture in Europe.
7 km · about 15 min drive
national park
Mainland Spain's highest peaks, with the Pico Veleta road climbing past alpine lakes to nearly 3,400m near Granada.
27 km · about 30 min drive
famous road
Europe's highest paved road climbs from Granada past the Sierra Nevada ski station toward the 3,396 m Veleta summit, with hairpins above the clouds and views to the Mediterranean.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Highest of the three whitewashed villages stacked in the Poqueira gorge of the Alpujarras, its flat-roofed Berber-style houses and chimney pots facing Mulhacén. End of the paved climb on the GR-421 before the old Sierra Nevada track.
36 km · about 40 min drive
mountain pass
The highest paved pass in Andalusia at 2041m, crossing the Sierra Nevada between the Alpujarras and the Marquesado with arid Mediterranean mountain scenery.
53 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Repeatedly voted Spain's prettiest white village, a steep tumble of geranium-draped lanes above the Costa del Sol.
57 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Spectacular caverns containing the world's largest known stalactite and prehistoric paintings dating back 42,000 years.
58 km · about 65 min drive
April to October
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