Walking along Carrera del Darro feels like stepping back in time through Granada's most unchanged street. This narrow cobblestone path runs alongside the Darro River from Plaza Nueva to the Casa de las Chirimías, where it opens into the famous Paseo de los Tristes.

What strikes you first are the two stone bridges crossing the river - Puente de Cabrera and Puente de Espinosa, both from the early 17th century. They're among the few survivors of the many bridges that once spanned the Darro. Most disappeared over the centuries, particularly after a gunpowder explosion in 1509 near the Church of San Pedro y San Pablo caused massive damage and reshaped the area.

The real magic happens when you look up to your right. The Alhambra towers above on the Sabika hill, revealing different angles as you walk. You'll spot the Torre de la Vela and Torre del Cubo from the Alcazaba at the beginning, then the impressive Torre de Comares - the highest tower - comes into view as you approach the end.

The buildings lining the street tell Granada's layered history. El Bañuelo, the 11th-century Arab baths, are hidden behind an unremarkable entrance but represent some of Spain's best-preserved Islamic baths. The Convento de Santa Catalina de Zafra houses the remarkable Casa de Zafra, a 14th-century Nasrid house that's now the Albaicín Interpretation Center.

Further along stands the Casa de Castril, a Renaissance palace from 1539 with an ornate plateresque façade possibly designed by Diego de Siloé. It's been home to Granada's Archaeological Museum since 1923. Across the street, the Church of San Pedro y San Pablo sits on the site of an ancient mosque, rebuilt in 1560 after the original was destroyed.

The street has this wonderful intimacy - you're walking through centuries of history while the river murmurs beside you and the Alhambra watches from above. Local bars tucked into the ground floors of historic buildings serve excellent tapas at reasonable prices, adding life to the ancient stones.

An audio guide can help you catch details you might miss, especially about the disappeared bridges and hidden architectural elements. The walk takes maybe twenty minutes if you're just passing through, but you could easily spend hours exploring the museums and soaking up the atmosphere in this perfectly preserved slice of Granada.