It borders the municipalities of Lobras, Bérchules, Alpujarra de la Sierra, Ugíjar, Murtas and Albondón.

Cádiar is a region which, by its geographical isolation, has always developed its own distinct culture that had its heyday in the Grenadines period, when Las Alpujarras was an important agricultural emporium specializing in the production of silk.

Cádiar has historically been a place of confluence of different cultures which swept across Las Alpujarras.

In the Muslim era, it possessed a mosque, several cemeteries or rabitas and at least three neighborhoods by their respective walls.

After the reconquest of Granada in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs, the population was under intolerable pressure, and in 1568 a wealthy landowner in the area called Fernando de Córdoba y Valor (Aben Humeya) took up arms against King Philip II.