La Alcaiceria in Granada – an Ancient Arab Market near the Cathedral

The Alcaicería street is located next to the Cathedral, running from Plaza Alonso Cano to Ermita street. It is a commercial area full of small shops, mostly dedicated to the sale of souvenirs and handicrafts from Granada.


The entire neighborhood of Alcaiceria was once an Arab marketplace but was almost completely destroyed in a fire in 1843.

Why is it called La Alcaiceria?

Its name comes from the Arabic word 'al-qaysariya', which means a commercial institution.

It is also said to be related to the name of Caesar, to whom the Arabs were grateful for allowing them to trade in silk.

What was La Alcaiceria like in the past?

It was a closed and well-protected market, owned by the monarch after the Conquest, where raw silk was delivered to collect taxes and mark it.

Additionally, high-priced merchandise such as silk, silver objects, goldsmith work, and sumptuous clothes were sold, with their sale prohibited outside its confines.

A Glimpse into History

The Alcaicería was founded in the 14th century next to the Great Mosque during the time of Muhammad V.

It was accessed through nine doors, which were closed at night to protect it.

It was a closed and well-protected marketplace owned by the monarch after the conquest, where taxes were collected, and high-priced goods were sold: silk, silverware, and sumptuous clothing, the sale of which was prohibited outside the market.

It was closed at night with solid doors, and only the warden and the guards remained inside. In the 16th century, it had almost 200 small shops.

In the 17th century, significant changes took place, and all kinds of silk, woven and hank, gold, cloth, linen, and other goods were sold in the Alcaicería.

Its governor's guards watched over it with dogs at night, opened it during the daytime, and took care of its cleanliness.

At night, not only were all the establishments closed, but also the surrounding houses shut their doors with bars to prevent theft. The guard went on a thorough round, leaving only two of them inside, along with the warden and the dogs.

In the 18th century, the silk industry experienced a setback, and some shops were left unrented.

The enclosure was divided into two parts: one with the silk wholesale markets or shops, and the other with the jellies, customs, and their offices.

Thus, liners, scribes, and other shops unrelated to the art of silk were set up—an emblematic place that you will not forget.

Is La Alcaicería just a street?

La Alcaicería is an area with gift shops and bazaars spread across three main streets, which include both a shop and a street named "La Alcaicería".

The streets adjacent to the Alcaicería that have craft shops are:

How to get there and where is the Alcaicería located?

It is located in the historic center of Granada, next to the famous Bib Rambla square, the Cathedral, and the Royal Chapel.

City buses on lines 4, 8, 11, 21, 33, C31, C32, C34 pass through Gran Vía, which is next to Calleja del Pañuelo.

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