DOLAR
Written by Marta Palomo Hermoso and translated by Tanya Shew
The name of this municipality has little to do with the American currency, as Dolar is a typical, unspoilt mountain village. It is located at the foot of Sierra Nevada, among pines and chestnuts. In fact, it is part of the Natural Park of the same name. The houses in Dolar are nestled at the whims of its geography, surrounding the peak.
HISTORY
The history of this little village has always been linked to the extraction of mineral resources. This was most likely the modus vivendi of the people of this area during the Arab period. After the conquest of the kingdom of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs, Dolar became part of the Don Rodrigo de Mendoza estate.
THINGS TO SEE OR DO
On the outskirts of Dolar, there are the ruins of an old Arab castle overlooking the village and its surrounding areas. For nature lovers, Dolar is a fantastic place for hiking, horse-riding or cycling routes.
Back in the village, there are several important monuments that can be visited, like the parish church of “La Señora de la Anunciación” and the chapels of San Andres and San Antón.
Dolar’s most treasured element is probably the Arabic Baths. They were discovered in the basement of the Town Hall building and have become one of the main tourist attractions of the village. Right next to the baths, there is an interpretation centre informing visitors all about how they used water back in the 13th to the 15th Centuries. Note that the opening hours of this attraction are generally limited to the weekends (Friday mornings, Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings).
Dolar also has a Mycology Centre, created with the purpose of showcasing the richness of the mountain range of this area. The centre has a magnificent museum representing different varieties of wild mushrooms that can be found here as well as their features and collection times.
There are several little supermarkets, bakeries and butchers in the village and the market takes place every Monday at the church square.
GASTRONOMY
As usual in the Granada province, all the bars in Dolar offer a tapa with each drink you order. You even get to choose that which most take your fancy.
A product that is gaining increasing fame nationwide is the local wine. Dolar’s vineyards grow varieties like Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dolar is also known for its sausages, Choto a la Caldereta (Stewed kid) and a dish called Telerines (a pasta dish prepared with tomato, pepper and onion accompanied by hare, garlic sausage or cod). The sweet bites made in Dolar have a Moorish influence and are based mostly on almonds.
FESTIVALS
Several festivals are held throughout the year in Dolar, like the, a procession in honour of San Anton (17th January), Day of the Crosses (3rd May), the August fair, inaugurated with a large paella for the entire village, and the patron saint festivals, in November.
LOCATION
There is about 79 kilometres between Granada and Dolar. To get to Dolar from Granada, take the A-44 road towards Málaga and the A-92 until you see the turnoff for Dolar.
