One of the more exciting excursions in Granada was our journeys through the streets of Sacromonte. This community in Granada has a lot to offer: unique people, caves that the gitanos have lived in for centuries, beautiful views of Alhambra, unique streets with interesting stories, music, and flamenco.
One particularly interesting story — the Lead Books of Sacromonte –starts in these caves and ends in Abbey of the Sacromonte.
Sometime in or around 1595, 22 volumes of “lead books” were found in the caves. As the story goes, the books along with human remains were thought to be those of Caecilius of Elvira and his followers who were all martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero (54-68).
Locals quickly embraced the religious and historical importance and moved the artefacts to the Abbey. Shortly after (1642), the Vatican renounced the findings, declared the story a hoax, and had the relics moved to Rome… after forbidding Catholics from discussing the matter again.
All remained in the Vatican until the year 2000 when they were returned to Sacromonte. To this day, people are still not allowed to see or study the books.
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