The district of Dílar is located in the western slope of the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada, at 878 meters of altitude and at the shore of the river that takes its name. Its natural surroundings and its proximity to the city of Granada turn it into an ideal place for the practice of rural tourism, trekking, bike rides or horse riding. Its location makes it enjoy one of the most privileged landscaping places of the north-western cornice of the Penibético Massif and with diverse shades. On one hand, the shore of the Dílar River between poplars; on the other hand, fields of olive trees, pines and oaks. The tourist attraction of this natural place is complemented with a leisure and education offer in the Huerto Alegre educative innovation centre, a nature classroom nailed in the middle of the Sierra Nevada Park.
The area in which the Dílar district is based it was already inhabited in the Bronze Age, as the archaeological rests found demonstrate. The archaeologist Manuel de Góngora located in the surrounding area of this town the only dolmen known of in Sierra Nevada. Despite the enormous stones of this megalithic structure, they have not been studied because they were altered in its form and used in a factory. Its fertile land was also an attraction point for the Muslims, who settled in it from the first time of its dominion. At this stage, there were three farmhouses, called Low Church, Hondon neighbourhood and High neighbourhood. A date sealed in the history of Dílar is the one of 1126 when during an expedition the king Alfonso I “the Batallador” occupied it and sacked it to face the governor Temin ben Yusuf. Later the troops of the Catholic Kings conquered the area and they handed it to who was the first Marques of Dílar.
Of its gastronomy the rabbit in sauce stands out. A dish that in Dílar is watered with the good wines that are elaborated in the region. In fact, in this town, the Celebration of the book and the Wine is organized, in which free tastes of wine are offered in exchange for books. The products of its agriculture, the maize, sunflower seeds, apple trees and pear trees, form the great fan of its cuisine excellences. The salads with white beans, leeks or onions pure, are other examples of traditional recipes of Dílar, along with dishes of smaller hunting and river fishes.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
