La Calahorra: Castle, Pilgrimage Route and Puerto de la Ragua

Castle and Historic Architecture

The Castillo de La Calahorra provides the town with a clear cultural and historical introduction. It was built between 1509 and 1512 and houses one of the earliest and most significant courtyards in the Italian Renaissance style in Spain. The construction period and courtyard offer two perspectives: on the one hand, the building’s creation in the early 16th century is central; on the other, the courtyard’s distinctive design. The Castillo thus combines its period of construction with an Italian Renaissance-style courtyard.

Guided tours are offered at the Castillo de La Calahorra. In addition to the dates and the courtyard, the tour is therefore also part of the visitor experience at the Castillo. The three aspects – construction period, courtyard complex and guided tour – place different emphases within the same site.

Church, Pilgrimage Route and Local Tradition

A second historical reference is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de La Anunciación. It was built in 1546 and has a Mudéjar wooden ceiling with geometric and star-shaped motifs. The ceiling thus brings geometric and star-shaped patterns into the church interior; this architectural feature is clearly distinct from the Renaissance courtyard of the Castillo. For visitors interested in sacred architecture, this creates another historical facet of La Calahorra.

Routes are also part of the town’s specific connections. The La Calahorra-Aldeire-Área Recreativa La Rosandrá route (PR-A 247) passes through La Calahorra. Its course places the town in connection with Aldeire and the Área Recreativa La Rosandrá.

The Ermita de San Gregorio combines a religious connection with the history of the Camino Mozárabe de Santiago. It is one of the recognised places for stamping pilgrims’ credentials for this Way of Saint James. Mules were used around the Ermita de San Gregorio during the traditional Carrera de las nueve vueltas.

Roads via Granada, Almería and the Alpujarra

Several road connections are named for geographical orientation. La Calahorra is connected to Granada and Almería via the A-92 motorway. In addition, the Puerto de la Ragua is connected to La Calahorra via the A-337. A narrow road leads over the Puerto de La Ragua from La Calahorra into the Alpujarra and onwards to the Mediterranean coast. Granada, Almería, the Alpujarra and the Mediterranean coast thus appear in different connections with the town.

In the wider regional surroundings of La Calahorra, various snow activities are offered at the Puerto de la Ragua; there are several cross-country ski trails there. Snow activities and cross-country skiing therefore form an independent mountain connection at the Puerto de la Ragua in the wider regional surroundings of La Calahorra.

Further destinations can be accessed through the following local pages: Moraleda De Zafayona, Picena, Guejar Sierra, Pinos Puente, Venta Micena, Laroles, Loja and El Varadero.

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.