Walking up Cuesta de Gomérez in Granada feels like stepping back through centuries of history. This steep, cobbled street connects Plaza Nueva to the Alhambra, and trust me, you'll feel every meter of that climb in your legs.

The street itself tells quite a story. Back in the 16th century, this area was actually the end of a ravine that collected water flowing toward the Darro River. The city covered it over and created the access route we use today. Before that, during Arab times, people took completely different paths to reach the fortress above.

What really catches your attention as you huff and puff upward is the Puerta de las Granadas at the top. This Renaissance gateway replaced an original Islamic entrance called Bib al-Buxar, meaning "gate of joyful news." Emperor Charles V commissioned Pedro Machuca to design this new entrance around 1526, right after his wedding in Seville to Isabel of Portugal.

The gate's design is pure Renaissance classicism, built with rusticated Florentine stonework that gives it that distinctive rough-hewn texture. Three pomegranates crown the triangular pediment above the central arch, which is how it got its current name. Until the 18th century, locals actually called it the Gate of Gomérez. The imperial coat of arms sits prominently in the center, flanked by allegorical figures representing Peace and Abundance.

I remember when cars still drove through here, which seems almost absurd now. The exhaust fumes and occasional fender-benders weren't doing this 16th-century monument any favors. Recent restoration work has cleaned the stone beautifully, revealing details that were hidden under decades of grime.

The gateway has three arches. The central one, framed by Tuscan columns, was originally for carriages and later vehicles. The two smaller side arches were for pedestrians, though they stayed walled up until 1937. Now everything's pedestrian-only, which makes the whole experience much more pleasant.

Once you pass through, you enter the Bosque de la Alhambra, a shaded forest area that feels worlds away from the bustling streets below. You can take the right path toward Torres Bermejas or head left toward the main Alhambra entrances. An audio guide can provide deeper historical context as you explore, but honestly, just taking a moment to catch your breath and appreciate where you're standing works pretty well too.