Description of the attraction
The once ancient district of Granada, Albayzín, was surrounded by a double row of fortress walls that reliably protected it from possible attacks. Unfortunately, only a few fragments of these walls have survived to this day. The oldest of these fragments belonged to the inner wall, the time of its construction dates back to the reign of the Zirid dynasty. When the population of Albayzin began to increase rapidly, the need arose for expansion, and another, outer wall was erected. Until now, several gates have survived that were part of this wall - these are the Puerta Monaita Gate, Puerta Nueva or Arco de las Pesas and the Puerta de Elvira Gate, which were considered the main gate to Albayzín.
The Puerta Monaita Gate was built in the 11th century and is a prime example of Moorish architecture in medieval Spain.
The gate is a huge arch, which encloses both halves of the entrance doors, made of wood and covered with iron. Massive stone steps lead to the gate. On the north side, to the left of the gate itself, a defensive tower rises, built of stones, lime and concrete.
In 1931, the Puerta Monaita Gateway was declared a National Historic Landmark. In 1998-1999, work was carried out to restore this part of the wall. Nevertheless, at the moment the gate looks abandoned, there is a lot of dirt and debris in the surrounding area.
