Dílar: Sulayr Trail, Alayos and Local Culture

The Sulayr Trail runs through the municipality of Dílar on the Cortijuela–Rinconada de Nigüelas section. When choosing a holiday apartment in Dílar, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on booking platforms. For choosing a location, trails, landscape, culture, festivals and culinary stops are presented as different themes and can be weighted according to your own travel plan.

Nature

On this section, the Sulayr Trail crosses the Collado Chaquetas, passes through the Río Dílar and continues to climb via the Umbría de la Dehesa. The section is particularly interesting in terms of landscape and botany and is home to valuable wildlife.

Ermita Vieja lies in a wooded valley surrounded by the high peaks of the Alayos. Excursions from Ermita Vieja allow visitors to learn about the Río Dílar ecosystem. Ermita Vieja also has, among other facilities, a classroom equipped with laboratory materials and a separate room for astronomy.

Hiking and Trails

Sendero 15 begins about 300 metres beyond the Ermita de la Virgen de las Nieves de Dílar. A branch leads in just a few minutes to Piedra Ventana, a large perforated rock above the Padul fault; the trail offers views of the peaks, including Pico del Caballo.

The Integral y Faldeo de los Alayos de Dílar circular route is 19.90 kilometres long. Spanish ibex are frequently spotted on this circular route. Centro Ecuestre Los Alayos offers horse rides, riding routes and riding excursions through Sierra Nevada Natural Park.

Dílar can be reached via the A-44; take the Otura exit and then continue on the NO-5 towards Dílar.

Culture and Tradition

The Ermita de la Virgen de las Nieves de Dílar is the municipality’s most important religious building. It is located on the upper edge of Dílar and overlooks the Vega de Granada and the Sierra. The present-day Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves was built on the outskirts of Dílar in 1796 and is the only chapel where the Marian image and its worship have been preserved.

The patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen de las Nieves, the patron saint of Dílar and the Sierra Nevada, take place around 15 August and include, among other things, dances, processions, fireworks and a pilgrimage. La Pastorada is a live, sung performance of the birth of Jesus and the adoration of the shepherds, staged after the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

In Dílar, esparto is used to make baskets, zurrones, fans, mats, ropes and traditional agricultural implements, among other items. Casa de las Piedras on the Camino de la Ermita is a local landmark made of pebbles and stones from the beach.

Casa Palacio del Marqués de Dílar was built in the town on the site of an old medieval castle. According to legend, the castle was conquered from the Moors on 24 October 1491 by the first Marqués de Dílar, according to an inscription on a plaque at Casa Palacio del Marqués de Dílar.

More Destinations

More destinations: Láchar, Lopera, El Varadero, Murtas, Busquístar, Montefrío, Moclin and Ítrabo

Local

The Fiesta de las Castañas festival takes place on 31 October; chestnuts are roasted, anise is drunk and costumes are worn.

Quaryat Dillar offers tours at a family-run olive mill in Dílar, where visitors can learn about the artisanal production of extra virgin olive oil. The experience includes walks through centuries-old olive groves in Dílar and its surroundings. Quaryat Dillar also offers tasting menus paired with its own extra virgin olive oil.

The Mosto y del Libro festival takes place on 2 January; traditionally, the young wine of the year was offered for tasting in exchange for books for the municipal library.

For the overarching travel overview: Granada.