PASEO DE LOS TRISTES
NEARBY TAPAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS
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.
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.
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.
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.