Residents of Granada rally round to protect their sacred tapas

A small serving of panic in Andalucia as mayor suspected of trying to ban cherished local tradition

It's often the majestic opulence of the Alhambra or the craggy peaks of the Sierra Nevada that lure visitors to the southern Spanish city of Granada. But it takes just minutes in one of the local bars - whether a heaving, dimly-lit tavern or a space where wine barrels stand in for tables - to discover another of the city's charms: the free tapas that come with most drink orders.

While olives and crisps flow freely in bars across Spain, Granada's establishments have long gone the extra mile, serving up deluxe tapas that range from deep-fried shrimp to hearty patatas bravas.