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| The historic town of Antequera. |
100 km - 1 hour
Leave Antequera on the A92 motorway following signs for Granada. The road winds through olive groves and by passes the village of Archidona sitting at the foot of it own mountain. If you have time leave the motorway, follow the old road through the town, stop for a drink at a roadside bar. Archidona is a different place now the traffic is gone.
A little further on the Malaga to Granada traffic joins the motorway, which now descends quite steeply to Rio Frio (km 187). This is a good place to stop for a drink, either at the roadside venta which is typical of Andalucia's answer to a motorway service station. Bar service for the drivers and self service for the coach parties. A reasonable restaurant is found inside. If it is lunch time then drive on into the village. Park the car near the Roman bridge and walk up the little lane that follows fast flowing trout stream. Spot the fish. Have lunch on the terrace of one of the little restaurants serve fresh trout 'trucha', It is particularly delicious barbecued.
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For the less adventurous, a few kilometers further on we find one of Andalucia's few purpose build motorway service stations.
As the motorway climbs the Genil valley look out for the pretty village of Loja down below on the left.
The postcard village of Montefrio is a 25km to the north. It is well worth the detour. Leave the motorway at km 206.
Although you are now still 30 km from Granada the city and the snow-capped (Nov to May) Sierra Nevada can soon be seen in the distance.
The motorway now passes through agricultural land. Even tobacco is grown here. Look out for the specially designed drying barns with their air brick design. A little further on you now pass Granada airport on the right hand side.
Santa Fé is an unassuming town, considering its importance in world history. There is not much for the traveller to see nowadays except the Neo-classical parish church and the entrance gates to the town. It was here that Queen Isabella set up her military camp 1492 to retake Granada from the Moors. It was here that Christopher Columbus was granted an audience with the Spanish Queen and finally given the resources to sail west to prove there was another route to the Indies. The rest is history.
For Granada, Alhambra, Sierra Nevada, Motril
Leave the motorway at km230 just before Santa Fe and head directly into the centre of Granada. You will reach the western by pass motorway of Granada. It cannot be missed due to the 4 huge towering lights at each interchange. Depending on where you want to go in the city, it may be better to turn right and join the ring road or 'circumvalacion de Granada'.
- Exit km 131 is for Calle Mendez Nuñez and the Corte Inglés
- Exit km 132 is for 'Recojidas'
- Exit km 134 is for 'Paseo de Colon' and the Palacio de Congresos
- Exit km 135 is for 'Ronda Sur' (South Ring road) The Alhambra Palace and the Sierra Nevada
For Jaen, Guadix, Almeria & Murcia
Continue on the Motorway 10 more kilometers to km 241 for the interchange for the Granada to Jaen Granada to Motril, and Granada to Almeria routes. If you missed the turning for Granada earlier you can also join the ring road here.
