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Albaicin in Granada - District Guide, History and Directions |
The Albaycin is the old Arab quarter. It comprises approximately the area between the
hill of the Alhambra, the hill of San Cristobal, the Sacromonte and Elvira.
The Albaycin is like a different world inside of Granada. This is due to
the strong Muslim influence in this area. It was the place where the first siri court was
built in the eleventh century.
The city descended from Saint Nicholas to the banks of the
river Darro.
Albaycin was populated by luxurious carmenes and public baths, like the
Banuelo.
The maximum moment of splendor Albaycin reached in the last years of Nazari dominance,
a population of more than forty thousand inhabitants and thirty mosques.
The streets were very narrow and small, clean houses, plus numerous
wells, some of which are stil in Albaycin.
With the reconquest, Albaycin was left for Muslims as their own place of residence.
But soon the population became much smaller.
The constant revolts forced the monarchs
to expel the Arabs that were practicing Muslim. The mosques were demolished and on the same sites
churches were lifted.
The Moors left their homes that was used by wealthy Christians to build thier carmenes.
This is a district to explore, to walk through all its narrow streets
and discover things that you cannot find in a guide book. No visit to Albaycin
can be complete without seeing the district from the Alhambra.
Albaycin is a neighborhood where you can experience the atmosphere of its bars and
terraces, to watch a sunset over the Alhambra, at the moment when the sun turns red.
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How get to Albaycin:
You can reach Albayzin in the bus number 31, more information at
Buses of Granada.
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