The name "Fígares" comes from the architects Matías and José Fernández-Fígares Méndez, who designed the neighbourhood between 1930 and 1935. Construction was approved by royal decree on 3 October 1925; the first residents moved in during the last quarter of 1928.
History & origins
This "Ronda / Fígares" neighbourhood is administratively distinct from the official tourist barrio "Genil y Ronda" featured in the Granada guide: the same word "Ronda" appears in both names, but they are two different areas of the city.
Distrito Ronda, of which Fígares forms part alongside Camino de Ronda and Rosaleda, is the city's most populous district. The neighbourhood has seen significant property development, with rising land values and the construction of modern housing.
Heritage & architecture
The neighbourhood is home to the Parque de las Ciencias, the most visited museum in the whole of Andalusia, as well as Granada's Palacio de Congresos; unlike the monuments of the historic centre, Fígares's appeal remains mainly residential and institutional. Fígares borders Centro-Sagrario to the north, the Realejo to the east, Zaidín-Vergeles to the south, and Camino de Ronda to the west.
Parque de las Ciencias
Andalusia's most visited museumAn interactive science museum.
Palacio de Congresos
Convention centreA major institution in the neighbourhood.
Camino de Ronda
Neighbouring areaA residential and commercial spine within the same district.
Rosaleda
Neighbouring areaPart of Distrito Ronda.
Culture & living traditions
Unlike Sacromonte or the historic centre, Fígares has no built-up tourist cultural scene: it's a neighbourhood that's lived in, not visited, and its buzz remains, above all, residential.
Suggested itinerary
Morning · 9am–12pm: Neighbourhood life
A walk through the residential streets of Fígares, heading towards Camino de Ronda.
Afternoon · 12pm–4pm: Neighbouring areas
Rosaleda, then a link to the Realejo to extend the visit with richer heritage content.
Suggested itinerary, not field-tested.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the name Fígares come from?
From the architects Matías and José Fernández-Fígares Méndez, who designed the neighbourhood between 1930 and 1935.
Is Fígares the same as the "Genil y Ronda" barrio?
No, they are two different areas of the city despite the shared word "Ronda".
Is Fígares a tourist neighbourhood?
It's home to the Parque de las Ciencias, Andalusia's most visited museum, but its appeal remains largely residential and institutional.
What is Granada's most populous district?
Distrito Ronda, of which Fígares forms a significant part.
