Colomera

As you go down the Tiena y Olivares, you enter the land of the Río Colomera. The town is located in a narrow valley. The remains of the fortress crown the town with its steep streets balancing on the side of a hill. In the municipality you can enjoy hiking, fishing and canoeing.

Of particular interest is the local church, the Iglesia Parroquial de la Encarnación, officially declared a Monument of Historical and Artistic Interest. The municipality is currently building a large recreation area near the Embalse de Colomera reservoir, with accommodation, restaurants, tourist services and sports facilities.

Several remains point to the town’s Roman past, such as the Roman bridge and part of the old Roman road in the area known as Molino del Puente or Molino de Zacarías. A Roman necropolis was also found in Era del Chopo.

Just 25 kilometres from Granada, this town was an old medieval fortress that helped defend the Moorish capital. Its name comes from the Latin Columbaria, as it was also a Roman settlement. During Arab rule it was called Qulumbayra, and is referred to as such by Ibn Hayyan in the 10^th century. At that time the fortress was built by an army from Cordoba to fight against Ibn Hafsun. Ibn al-Khatib refers to the original site of the town as a farmstead.

Colomera was involved in many violent episodes. It also served as a kind of warehouse for Granada, providing the town with wheat, pork and game. The Catholic Monarchs conquered it in 1486. From then until the fall of Granada it was a Spanish garrison. Interestingly, this garrison helped Boabdil, who was being held captive in the Albayzín by his uncle El Zagal.

In Colomera a lot of pork, sausages and game are produced. Local dishes include homemade goat with garlic, Granada soup, Picadillo soup, fried potatoes, Migas, roast rabbit with tomatoes and peppers, roast lamb and delicious lamb stew.

Local sweets include muffins, doughnuts and biscuits. The DO of Montes de Granada denomination for the production of olive oil is in part in this municipality.