Casa Lecrin is set at the edge of the village of Niguelas, near Granada, Andalucia, in southern Spain in a very peaceful and private corner, with a shady and verdant patio furnished for Al Fresco dining. There is a spacious roof terrace for sun bathing and for taking in the breathtaking views of the countryside and mountains. You can relax here in the evenings with a glass of wine and watch the sunset. On warm perfumed evenings, you can listen to the nightingales singing in the nearby formal gardens.
The house is very conducive to complete relaxation, but there is no shortage of more active pursuits. You can go mountaineering and scale the summit of the great peak of Mulhacen (at approx. 3500 metres) from the ski station of Sol y Nieve, go fishing, horse riding, or rock climbing. Or you may prefer to just wander around the twenty or so small villages within the Lecrin valley.
You can learn to paint (see owner’s website: www.arteandalucia.com), learn Spanish, or find out about the fascinating local history. There is a Roman amphitheatre, an olive oil museum, an ancient flour mill and several abandoned troglodyte cave dwellings to explore. The town hall is very interesting, housed as it is within a fifteenth century mansion which was designed in homage to the Alhambra by a local nobleman in the sixteenth century. It is set in it’s own rather beautiful formal gardens, and all of the complex is open to the public free of charge. 
During the third week of September there is a ten day Music Fiesta in the village which highlights the classical music traditions of Niguelas, which has produced many fine musicians for almost a century.
Niguelas is well provided with day to day amenities that include 7 bars, 2 restaurants, a bank, a pharmacy, a Doctors surgery, a fish market, a grocers, two or three small supermarkets, and 2 bakeries, one of which is reputed to be one of the best in the region!
There is a general household market on Mondays, and the nearby small town of Durcal offers a much wider range of shops, supermarkets and services, and a covered market on Wednesdays.
The Location
Niguelas nestles at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas and at the head of the Lecrin Valley, near Granada, Spain (which translates as the “valley of happiness” from the original Arabic). It is a small, unspoilt, traditional Andalucian village, with a population of about 1500. Known locally as El Balcon del Valle, it is set at one of several of the gateways into the mountains to the East and North, but also looks out to the South and the West across the lush and productive agricultural plains, known as Las Vegas.
As a base for a holiday full of interest and variety, Niguelas has a lot to offer. It is possible to ski in the morning at Sol Y Nieve, the ski resort near Granada, and then bathe in the Mediterranean at a beach resort in the afternoon.
For those with an interest in music, history, culture architecture, art, shopping, fine dining or Spanish traditions, the great city of Granada is very definitely a world class destination. Within a twenty minute drive from Niguelas and Casa Granada, lie all the delights of this unique and spectacular metropolis.
The most well known of these attractions must surely be the famous Alhambra, and to do this magnificent site proper justice more than one visit is needed. It is a large and rambling complex of ancient palaces, fortified citadels, archaeological ruins, five star hotels, and spectacular gardens full of fountains, rills and tranquil pools. Booking must be made well in advance which can be done through their web site: www.alhambra-tickets.es. You can enjoy cutting edge musical and dramatic performance productions here, held at the marvellous new outdoor amphitheatre set within the grounds of the Generalife, all serviced by state of the art performance technologies. The Granada Music Festival held in the city during high summer in June is world renowned for all kinds of music and dance.
The views across Granada from the Alhambra are stunning and far reaching. The ancient warren of streets known as the Albaicin are set on the hillside opposite, and entice the visitor with the chance to explore quaint alleys and shady lanes, sprinkled with a surprising choice of interesting restaurants and tapas bars.
At the foot of the Albaicin is the pedestrianised area of the old Arab quarter, where there are many Arab and Morrocan restaurants and tea rooms, and dozens of intriguing old shops full of exotic goods from North Africa and beyond.
Granada boasts art galleries galore, street theatre, a beautiful cathedral, colourful plazas, statues , fountains, museums, not to mention cool shopping malls and flagship Spanish fashion stores. It is sophisticated, prosperous, and full of variety. Relatively small, it is possible to explore much of it on foot, although there is a highly efficient and cheap city bus service. In fact there is so much to see and enjoy in and around the city that several return visits might be necessary! Guides, maps and reference books are available at Casa Granada for the use of our guests.
When you have had enough urban excitement you may choose to wander into the wild and tranquil space of the mountains. There are several trails from Niguelas village which lead up into the Sierra Nevadas. One of these is the famous GR7 route, which can be followed all the way to Greece if you’ve a mind to!. Or perhaps you would like to taste the local wine in nearby vineyard: Bodega Seniorio de Nevada which is only a few kilometers from Niguelas, near the village of Cónchar.
There is a lot of wild life to see in the surrounding countryside, including ibex, wild boar or maybe even a glimpse of the rare Genet. The area is a twitcher’s paradise with hoopoe, serins, golden oriole, black redstart, nightingales, eagles, lesser kestrels, and warblers living among a variety of habitats.
