Granada's Sacromonte Abbey faces conversion into luxury hotel amid tourism backlash

• The Granada City Council has initiated environmental proceedings to convert the historic Sacromonte Abbey into a luxury hotel.
• Local civil society groups and environmental activists are opposing the project, citing the privatization of public heritage and environmental concerns.
• This move comes as Granada pushes for the 2031 European Capital of Culture, despite warnings from experts about existing saturation risks.

The Project Proposal

• Driven by the Archbishopric of Granada, the project involves converting three historic buildings—the new seminary, the library, and the student residence—into hotel facilities.
• The proposal includes a three-story parking structure with an investment of over 24 million euros.
• A public consultation period is currently open, with formal objections accepted until September 8.

Criticisms and Concerns

• Albayzín Habitable: The group argues that public funds have long supported the maintenance of the site, and converting it into a private hotel offers no return to the local population while threatening its status as collective heritage.
• Ecologistas en Acción: The organization warns that the new parking facility will increase traffic and that the hotel’s water consumption will strain local infrastructure, which already suffers from sewage leaks into the Darro River.
• Political Opposition: Representatives from Granada Unida and Adelante Andalucía claim the municipal government is prioritizing tourism over the needs of residents, warning that the policy is displacing locals and breaking down the city's social fabric.