This town is placed in the Tejeda Mountain range, hung on the steep and deep cliff over the Alhama river. It has a reputed spa already operated by the Romans and Arabs, and that at the moment offers modern treatments against arthritis, rheumatism and stress. Its historical patrimony is rich and its town centre has been declared Historic-Artistic Complex. Its celebrations are varied and showy, as the romería of the wine during the September fair, the carnival, and the Young Music Festival.
The Romans, who also enjoyed the spas, left some rests behind like the Roman road, the Roman bridge and some villas. But, they were the Arabs who printed the dominant character to the settlement founding the town. It owes to them the labyrinth and confusing design of its Arab neighbourhood, the rests of the wall, the watch-towers and, most important, the Baño Fuente, with its splendid circular arcs.
With the Christian conquest, in 1482, new constructions replaced the old mosques, synagogues and Arab palaces. The church of the Encarnacion, the convents of the Carmen and San Diego, the House of the Inquisition (symbols of the new power), the Cano Wamba and numerous family houses were built, providing the city with a rich monumental patrimony perfectly integrated in a popular architectonic surrounding of great beauty.
Alhama has two villages attached: Ventas de Zafarraya and Buenavista.
Alhama shows its houses to an imposing cliff that is, in itself, one of the main tourist attractions of the town. The remains found near the Marchán river, in the cortijos El Navazo and El Chopillo, and in the Agua, the Mujer and Los Molinos caves, testify that this place was inhabited during the Neolithic period.
It was Iberian first, then Phoenician, later Carthaginian later; it welcomed all the Mediterranean cultures. Plinio called it Stici and the Romans Artigi, but were the Arabs who gave it its present name, al-hammam (thermal waters or the bath). Moors and Christians fought about it and were the Catholic Kings troops those that, in a clever blow, stole it from the Muslims in 1482. They writers of the time said that "800 Arabs died and 3,000were imprisoned, they left a rich gold and silver and pearl booty, and silks and jewels and horses and mules, and infinite wheat and barley".
In 1884 it was partially destroyed by an earthquake, but its reconstruction, to initiative of king Alfonso XII, was carried out respecting the traditional architecture.
The cuisine of Alhama offers an exceptional quality in the vegetables of its region, mainly chick-peas, and in the derivatives of the pig. Among, migas and other stews, the jameña pot stands out, forceful plate that can be accompanied by traditional wines elaborated in the area. It has to be mention as well the pastry making, with fine candies of the Clarisas nuns of San Diego.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
