Soundscape assessments by citizens are starting to emerge as a common practice, normally carried out in context by means of soundwalks along selected paths with volunteers. However, when such assessments are carried out, either in situ or in laboratory experiments, visually impaired citizens are not usually involved. To address this question, three soundwalks were carried out in 2020 in the city of Granada, in southern Spain, with the participation of visually impaired people. In this paper, we present the lessons learnt from this research with respect to the methodology issues that have to do with soundwalking and the surveying procedures when people with limited vison are participating, the assessment results, and a comparison with a soundscape evaluation carried out in 2019 without the collaboration of visually impaired people. The results of this preliminary campaign highlight that: (1) Adapting soundscape assessment protocols from standards for visually impaired people is a methodological challenge that requires research attention; (2) Some of the different patterns in the assessment of the soundscape pleasantness between visually impaired and nonvisually impaired participants emerged; (3) The perception of quietness may differ for visually impaired people when orientation and identification are factors that play a role in the acoustic environment evaluation.

This paper analyses the acoustic behaviour of the Palace of Charles V from a room acoustics perspective but also ponders the uniqueness of the space and its ability to engage and enhance the audience experience. The Palace of Charles V is a relevant part of the historical heritage of Granada. It has an architectural but also an acoustic uniqueness that deserves research. A measurement campaign was made to calculate parameters such as T30, IACC, C₈₀ or Gm, and to explain the behaviour of the Palace. The BQI is quite high, but the late part of the impulse response (t > 80 ms) has strong unwanted reflections causing low clarity (C₈₀) and listener envelopment (LEV). Nevertheless, the Palace is a successful concert venue with good feedback from musicians and the audience.

Finding a metric to evaluate the sound quality of a given product is a challenging task. It depends on multiple criteria and dimensions. This study proposes a soundscape approach to assess the pleasantness of the acoustic environment in an open-air heritage site, the Corral del Carbón in Granada as a complementary tool for selecting concert venues in addition to environmental and room acoustics criteria. Acoustic measurements and surveys were conducted at two locations: the patio of the building and the adjacent street. The methodology involved soundwalks with participants who provided subjective assessments, complemented by objective acoustic indicators and psychoacoustic parameters. The results reveal a significantly more pleasant acoustic environment inside the patio than the street. This kind of comparisons between sites provide information on which is a more suitable setting for concerts. Soundscape approach offers a practical tool for selecting concert venues in heritage contexts by emphasizing the importance of the perceptual experience of the audience, thereby enhancing the decision-making process for concert programmers and acousticians.

This study evaluates the acoustic performance of the 14th-century Corral del Carbón courtyard in Granada, Spain, an unroofed Nasrid al-funduq used as an unamplified performance space. In-situ impulse responses following ISO 3382-1, B-format ambisonic captures, and background noise assessments were integrated with calibrated geometrical acoustic simulations in EASE/AURA. The open-sky boundary prevents late diffuse field consolidation, producing a linear energy decay (Tmid = 1.07s; EDTmid = 1.04s). Strong early lateral reflections yield high clarity (C80 = 4.37dB), definition (D50 = 59%), and speech intelligibility (STI = 0.627). The massive rammed-earth walls attenuate external urban traffic noise by up to 20 dB, securing an NC-35 rating (27.1dBA). To compensate for CAD geometry simplification, a global scattering coefficient (s = 0.80) was required, achieving precise simulation calibration (Tmid= 1.061s). Predictive scenario modelling demonstrates that installing a temporary overhead roof would trap acoustic energy, raising T30 beyond 2.0s and severely degrading acoustic definition and intelligibility. Preserving the open-sky boundary is therefore essential for safeguarding the venue’s intangible acoustic heritage.