Hotels near Alcaicería

The Alcaicería is the small grid of covered alleys behind the Granada Cathedral that once housed the city's grand silk and spice market under Nasrid rule. The original 15th-century complex was ten times larger - the current version is a 19th-century reconstruction after a fire in 1843 destroyed the medieval bazaar - but the look and the trade are recognisable. Stalls sell ceramics, marquetry boxes, leather slippers, painted fans, and Moroccan-style lanterns.

Most of what is sold today is imported from Morocco and Granada's Alpujarra workshops, but a few local artisans still work in nearby Calle Elvira and the Albaicín. The location, between the Royal Chapel and the Cathedral, makes it an easy 15-minute browse during a centre walk - and a good place to pick up small souvenirs without trekking further afield.

Pro Tip: Bargain politely at the Alcaicería - asking prices are usually 30-40% above what locals pay, and a pleasant haggle is expected. For genuine Granadan craftwork, head to taller workshops on Cuesta de Gomérez instead.