The Hands That Shape the Spanish Guitar
A master luthier reveals how Granada's guitars are still made by hand, as they have been for centuries — and the morning ends the way all good mornings here do: over tapas.
Highlights
- Meet one of only two female master luthiers in Spain in a workshop not available to the general public.
- Trace the journey of a handcrafted Spanish guitar, from the choice of tone woods to final assembly.
- Learn how Granada’s luthiers have shaped the sound of the classical guitar since the 16th century.
- Hear personal family stories of this ancient art, passed down through generations.
- Understand how castañuelas — percussion instruments first created by the Phoenicians — are crafted by hand.
- Settle in at a traditional tapas bar, where your drink arrives with a plate of local specialities.
Your private Granada experience
Granada has been building guitars since the 16th century. The workshops tucked into its old-town neighborhoods have shaped the sound of classical and flamenco music for generations, drawing concert performers and collectors from across the world to source instruments built the...
Granada has been building guitars since the 16th century. The workshops tucked into its old-town neighborhoods have shaped the sound of classical and flamenco music for generations, drawing concert performers and collectors from across the world to source instruments built the traditional way. What you won’t find on any website, however, is a visit to one of these workshops. This experience is for your group alone.
Inside, you’ll meet one of only two female master luthiers in all of Spain — a rare figure in a craft long defined by men, and the keeper of a tradition that has been handed down through generations of Granada artisans. Your guide, who serves as your dedicated interpreter throughout, draws out the stories behind the work: the family history, the musicians who have played these instruments, the quiet decisions that most visitors would never think to ask about.
You’ll follow the full arc of how a Spanish guitar is made — from the initial selection of tonewoods chosen for how they resonate rather than how they look, through the hand-fitting of the braces, to the final stringing that gives each instrument its voice. The workshop also makes castañuelas, the hardwood percussion instruments at the heart of flamenco, carved and tuned entirely by hand.
Seeing both crafts side by side gives you a fuller sense of what it means to build something this way, in a city where the tradition runs this deep. The instruments that leave this studio are sought by musicians and collectors around the world,and now you’ll understand why.
After the workshop, a table is waiting at a nearby tapas bar. Over a drink, savor local tapas as you reminisce about what you’ve just seen and heard.
Schedule
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Welcome
Your guide meets you at Plaza Nueva and walks you to the atelier, a working studio in one of the historic neighborhoods where Granada’s luthiers have gathered for centuries. You’re introduced to the master and her world. -
Craft introduction
Learn how Granada became the city the guitar world looks to, and why concert performers and collectors still make the journey here for a single instrument. Your guide connects the tradition to the person standing in front of you. -
Workshop
The real work is happening around you: woods selected for their resonance, braces hand-fitted to the curve of a soundboard, the subtle geometry that separates a fine instrument from an ordinary one. The luthier walks you through each stage, with your guide translating every detail. -
Q&A with the maestro
The luthier doesn’t often get to explain her work to people who've just watched her do it. This is that conversation — about the wood, the musicians, the decisions most visitors never think to ask about. Your guide makes sure nothing is lost between languages. -
Tapas
The experience ends the way Granada likes to end things: at a local bar, with a drink and whatever the kitchen sends out with it. A quiet close to a morning spent with something made by hand.
Meeting point
FAQs
When will my booking be confirmed?
This private experience is available on request. After you complete your booking online, we’ll confirm availability with our local team. You’ll receive an email within 24 hours either confirming your booking or letting you know if that date is unavailable. If we’re unable to proceed with your reservation, you’ll receive a full refund.
Is this experience good for kids?
Yes, this experience is family-friendly, and your guide can tailor it for your group to make sure kids are included. Children under 3 don’t count toward the group size.
Are you able to accommodate different dietary restrictions?
We do our best to accommodate a range of diets. Please contact us to discuss should you have any dietary or allergen concerns, and we’ll be happy to advise.
What is the cancellation policy?
We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 72 hours before the experience start time.
Is this experience accessible?
Please contact us if you have any accessibility requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Is this experience run by ExperienceFirst?
No, it’s run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in Granada.
€1,064 per group $1,228 per group £929 per group C$1,711 per group A$1,778 per group
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Exclusively private
Unforgettable moments shaped around you -
Thoughtfully curated
Hand-picked experiences for the highest quality -
High-touch service
So your visit is stress-free from start to finish