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Paseo de los Tristes literally means Promenade of the Sad. This square runs parallel to the River Darro and owes its name to the fact that funeral corteges used to pass through here on their way up to the cemetery behind the Alhambra. It is also called "Paseo del Padre Manjón" after the priest who founded a school for poor children in the Sacromonte (Ave María school) and it is his bust which can be seen on the other side of the fountain, which is not the original one. Both the square and the original fountain were built in 1609 when the area was redesigned and it has always been a very lively place. In times gone by, fiestas and celebrations would be held here and at one time the River Darro itself was covered over with boards to act as a stage for small bullfights, games, plays etc |
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Pipers' Bridge |
The
first bridge
you reach is called "Puente de las Chirimias" or the "Pipers'
Bridge" and although there may have originally been an Arab bridge
in this same spot, the bridge you can see today was rebuilt in 1882. |
Next to it is a
small, three-storey square house (also built in 1609) which sheltered the
musicians who played at the various celebrations. The bottom floor was used
by bailiffs and minor officials, and the town council would occupy the second
floor, with the musicians on the top floor. It was later sold in the 18th
century, and used for accommodation. It has now been restored and is the
headquarters for the Historical and Cultural Association of Granada. |
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At the
end of the square there
is another bridge: the "Puente del Aljibillo" and refers to the
aljibe or water cistern that used to exist on the promenade on the other
side of the river. |
If you
cross over the bridge
you can take a left and go for a walk along the Camino del Avellano (which
eventually takes you to the top of the mountain) to the "Fuente del
Avellano" (Fountain of the Hazelnut Tree). This walk takes about 15
minutes and offers some magnificent views of the Sacromonte and Albaicín
areas. The fountain was also the meeting place for the "Cofradia del
Avellano" - a literary group headed by Angel Ganivet. |
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Alternatively, you
can walk straight on
up the hill known either as the "Cuesta de Los Muertos" (Hill
of the Dead), or "Cuesta del Rey Chico" (Hill of the Lesser King)
or "Cuesta de Los Chinos" ("chinos" being the small
splinters of stones which cover the road). After about 20 minutes, you
will
reach the Alhambra. |
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