El Albaicin description and photos - Spain: Granada (Topic)

El Albaicin description and photos - Spain: Granada. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is El Albaicin.

Photo and description

Albayzin is the oldest district of Granada, located on a hillside, at the foot of which the waters of the picturesque river with the beautiful name Darro are rustling.

Albayzin is an architectural heritage of the Moorish period in Spain. Its narrow winding streets, the layout and architecture of the surviving buildings take us to the times of the flourishing of the Muslim culture, which was widespread during the period of the settlement of this area by the Moors. It was as a "repository of the Moors' folk architecture" that Albayzin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Many Moorish residential buildings have survived to this day, such as houses surrounded by green gardens, which are called "carmen" here. There are also preserved ancient baths dating back to the 11th century, decorated with beautiful domes and capitals made by ancient masters. Most of the churches located today in Albaycin were built on the sites of ancient mosques. Most often, the mosque itself was destroyed, and only the minaret remained, which was rebuilt into a bell tower. These churches include the Church of San Jose, built on the site of an 11th century Muslim mosque, and the Gothic-style church of San Juan de los Reyest, whose bell tower is a former minaret dating back to the 13th century.

Once Albayzin was the residence of the rulers of Granada. In the 14th century, Albayzin became the center of flourishing trade and crafts. It produced jewelry and weapons, silk and brocade products, dishes and other household items. The streets of modern Albayzin still contain many workshops, shops and stalls.

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Topic: El Albaicin description and photos - Spain: Granada.