THE VILLAGE OF CHITE
Chite, in the valley of Lecrin, is a small, quiet and peaceful village with just over 300 inhabitants. The only shop is one which sells objets d´art so provisions need to be bought from the village of Talara, only 15 minutes’ walk away, or from various merchants who visit the village daily or weekly. For example, the baker comes twice a day, the fishmonger 3 or 4 times a week, the egg lady once a week. At harvest time various local farmers drive through the village selling fruit and vegetables.
The streets of Chite are very narrow. There is no parking in front of the house, but it is always possible to find somewhere to park just a couple of minutes´ walk away.
There is no bar or restaurant in Chite but these can be found in Talara, just 15 minutes walking from Chite. See below.

TALARA
You pass through Talara to get to Chite from the motorway. Talara has everything that you will need. There are 3 banks (with ATMs), 2 petrol stations, 4 small supermarkets, a pharmacy, 3 garages for car repairs, an ironmonger, a hairdresser, a dentist, 6 bars (all selling food as well as drink), a baker and a health clinic. The Acropolis bar in Mondujar (contiguous with Talara) has a swimming pool which opens June - September.
Talara has a bus service to Granada. There are about 8 buses a day but the last one back is quite early so it is almost always best to go by car. There are also buses to the coast and into the Alpujarra.

THINGS TO DO
Granada
Chite is situated a little way from the Autovia de la Sierra Nevada almost exactly half-way between Granada and the coast. Granada is 35km from Chite and about 30 minutes´ drive. The UNESCO heritage site of the Moorish palace, the Alhambra, is a must for any visitor, as is the Albaicin – the old Muslim quarter - with its pedestrianised streets filled with teashops and various items from Morocco on sale. The Royal Chapel in the Cathedral houses the crypt where the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel, are buried. The modern city has a fabulous traffic-free shopping centre and a profusion of excellent bars and restaurants.
Granada has an airport with flights to and from Madrid and Barcelona as well as other destinations. British Airways has a service from London City Airport.
The Coast
30 minutes ´drive in the opposite direction takes you to Motril and Salobreña – both seaside resorts. A little further along the coast, towards Malaga, are Almuñecar and La Herradura as well as numerous small bays if you want somewhere more secluded to sunbathe and swim.
Skiing
The ski resort of Sol y Nieve in the Sierra Nevada is only 45 minutes’ drive from Chite. Ski equipment and clothing can be hired or bought from various shops there. Depending on conditions the slopes can be open from November to April.
The Alpujarra – This is the hilly, almost forgotten, part of the province of Granada locked between the Sierra Nevada and the coast, now made famous by the books of Gerald Brennan (South from Granada) and Chris Stewart (Driving over Lemons) . Lanjaron (15 minutes from Chite), famous for its mineral water, is the gateway to the Alpujarra, and you can progress from here onto Poqueira, Pampaneira, Bubion, Capilleira and Trevelez villages where it is possible to buy local handicrafts and comestible products of the region.
Guadix – Is famous for its troglodyte village where some people still live in cave houses carved out of the soft sandstone. Some have opened as museums for visitors to see the interior. There is also a cave church hidden inside the modern one which dominates the village square. It takes about an hour to drive here from Chite.
Walks
There are some lovely walks through the orange, lemon and olive groves which surround the village of Chite. For more adventurous walkers there are some great walks in the Sierra Nevada but it is wise to ensure you have maps and a compass, or a guide, as most of the trails are not well signposted.
Further afield
If you have a car Cordoba and Ronda are doable in a day from Chite, but you would be best advised to stay overnight to get the most from your visit. If you are planning to visit Seville from Chite I would definitely suggest you stay at least one night there.