Description of the attraction
Albayzín is the oldest region of Granada, located on the side of a hill, at the foot of which the waters of the picturesque river with the beautiful name Darro are rustling.
Albayzín represents the 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.
Until now, many Moorish residential buildings have survived here, for example, 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 Albaycín 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 José, erected on the site of an 11th century Muslim mosque, as well as the Gothic-style church of San Juan de los Reyest, whose bell tower is a former minaret dating back to the 13th century.
Albayzin was once the seat of the rulers of Granada. In the 14th century, Albayzin became a center of prosperity for trade and crafts. Jewelry and weapons, silk and brocade products, dishes and other household items were produced here. The streets of modern Albayzin are still home to many workshops, shops and stalls.
