Cuesta de Gomérez, Granada

In the Nasrid period, the climb to the Alhambra was made through the Plaza Nueva and Cuchilleros area. There was a stretch of wall there with a gate that served as the entrance. The present Gomérez area was the end of the Sabika ravine and was not very passable until the 16th century. It was a rugged, difficult area that, in Nasrid times, connected with the wall towards the Torres Bermejas and the Alcazaba.

Everything changed from the reign of Charles V onwards. The Gomérez area began to be embellished and made accessible because the emperor needed a fitting entrance to his future palace in the Alhambra. The original defensive gate was replaced by the one we see today, the Puerta de las Granadas.

This gate is a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance. It was built by Pedro Machuca, the same architect as the Palace of Charles V, and completed in 1536. However, the gate has been known as "of the Pomegranates" since the 19th century, when the pomegranates were added to the decoration. Machuca originally designed it in a more sober, Renaissance style.

The present access is also the result of vaulting over the river Darro in the 19th century. This engineering work made it possible to stabilise the ground and create the street as we know it today.

It is the first monument you will find climbing from Plaza Nueva. This 16th-century gate was built to welcome the Emperor Charles V to the city. Pedro Machuca, a disciple of Michelangelo, designed this triumphal entrance combining classical elements with imperial symbolism. The decorative pomegranates that give it its name were added in the 19th century, but the original Renaissance structure remains intact.

From the Puerta de las Granadas the Alhambra woods stretch out, a lovely place to walk surrounded by nature at the foot of the fortress. These woods were planted following 19th-century landscaping criteria and provide shade and coolness on the climb to the Alhambra. They are especially pleasant in summer when temperatures rise.

The street is full of craft and souvenir shops where you can find typical Granada products: taracea (marquetry), Fajalauza ceramics, Manila shawls, guitars and, of course, all kinds of Alhambra souvenirs. It is the perfect place to buy authentic souvenirs before or after visiting the monument.

As you climb the street, the views of Granada become more and more spectacular. You can see the historic centre, the Cathedral, Plaza Nueva and, if you turn around, a unique perspective of how the city spreads over the plain. It is a natural viewpoint that few tourists take advantage of because they are focused on reaching the Alhambra.

Along the way you can make out the Torres Bermejas, an old military fortress of the Alhambra that controlled access through this area. This link helps you understand how the Nasrid defensive system worked and why Charles V chose this area to create his new imperial entrance.

Free access 24 hours a day to walk up the street. The shops usually open from about 10:00 to 20:00, although hours may vary with the season.

The climb from Plaza Nueva to the Alhambra takes about 15–20 minutes, depending on your pace and the stops you make in the shops.

Alternative access: if you have mobility problems, you can take the C30 or C32 bus from Plaza Nueva, which takes you straight to the Alhambra without the walk.

Parking: there is no parking on the street for private vehicles. If you come by car, you can park in Plaza Nueva or at the Alhambra car park and walk down.

Discover the historic gateway to the Alhambra, where Pedro Machuca created a Renaissance masterpiece for Charles V, where every shop keeps Granada's traditional craftsmanship alive and where every step brings you closer to one of the most impressive monuments in the world.