Living craftsmanship in the Sierra Nevada
Discover, create and connect with tradition.
Where creative hands weave memories and nature is your canvas.
Venture into the Sierra Nevada and discover the magic of creative hands in the Poqueira Valley, where artisans keep the tradition of looms alive. From jarapas workshops to the creation of clay art, every corner is an opportunity to connect with authenticity and explore nature and environmental education in facilities such as the Aula de Naturaleza Ermita Vieja and the Granja-Escuela El Molino de Lecrín. From orchards to traditional workshops, enriching experiences for the whole family, with local food and lodging.
Wisdom through the hands
There are still craftswomen capable of creating, with their hands, objects that were once essential for life and are today precious decorative elements. The last craftswomen who keep alive the traditional looms are in the Poqueira valley (Bubión and Pampaneira). Their wise hands mix techniques and fibers to make different kinds of textiles, among which stand out the "jarapas", a piece of fabric that was made in the past with "rags". You can participate in a workshop to weave your own ?jarapa? combining the colors to your liking. What better way to take home a souvenir of the mountain than a self-made handicraft! On your trip through the Sierra Nevada you can also discover the tradition of clay weaving in the Marquesado del Zenete, in the region of the river Nacimiento, or in Güéjar Sierra. You can also feel like an artist creating drawings, paintings or collages in the middle of nature with the company of local artists.
The environmental education centers of Sierra Nevada
The Aula de Naturaleza Ermita Vieja, in Dílar, the Granja-Escuela El Molino de Lecrín, in Padul, the Aula de la Naturaleza Paredes in Abrucena and youth summer camp in the Aula de Naturaleza Alpujarra, in Bérchules complete a well distributed network of facilities equipped with all the necessary infrastructures for environmental education.Working in the vegetable garden, feeding domestic animals, experimenting in the ecology laboratories, carrying out landscape construction workshops, making herbariums to learn about biodiversity, having fun with orientation activities in nature, observing birds and stars, following animal tracks and signs, learning about the benefits of relaxation in nature and healthy living, discovering traditional crafts, music and dance and making your own food, are some of the many activities that can be carried out in weekends, groups, summer camps and, what is more interesting, with the family. All the facilities dedicated to environmental education in Sierra Nevada have accommodation, delicious local food and the best educators so that young and old discover the secrets of an environmentally friendly life and enjoy together in Sierra Nevada.