Flamenco Cave

Sacromonte, a suburb of Granada, is known as "Cradle of Flamencos and Flamencas". Flamenco is the voice of the Andalusian people and is only sung in Andalusian. The origin of the cave houses is unclear, it is estimated that the first caves were dug during the 16th century. The caves were housing for the marginalised, located outside the walls of the city Grenada. As a result they were also outside administrative and ecclesiastical control, particularly the Spanish Inquisition.

The architecture of the caves is always similar. First a part of the face of the hill was carved away to creat a vertical wall which became tha facade of the cave. It also created a sort of porch. In the middle of the wall an arch was inserted to serve as a door. Then the rooms were excavated behind, the width was determined by the respective property, but the depth depended only on amount of work. There were restrictions by the terrain and by the geology though.

The families living here used the few possibilities they had to have a little fun, and so they had caves which were a little bigger than others, for gathering. The family came together with their flamenco dancing and singing which attracted those who passed by. Those daily parties came naturally, without the need to organize it, without the need for a stage, simply in a circle and wherever they were. The walls were decorated with local crafts, there was a row of stools on both sides along the wall. The middle was free for dancing, the far end was occupied by the musicians.