Albayzin

Welcome to the Al-ba-ee-theen, Gra-na-da's oldest and most atmospheric district. This neighborhood is a living time capsule of the city's Islamic past. …

One of the most remarkable survivals of the eleventh century is El Ban-u-el-o, the ancient Arab baths located near the Darro River. In Islamic Gra-na-da, the public bath was a central pillar of social and religious life, serving…

As we climb deeper into the heart of the Al-ba-ee-theen, the streets begin to narrow until they are barely wide enough for two people to pass. This is the 'wonderful maze of lanes' that captivates every visitor. …

One of the most distinctive features of the Al-ba-ee-theen is the 'Car-men.' The word comes from the Arabic 'Karm,' meaning a vineyard, but in Gra-na-da, it refers to a specific type of urban villa: a house with a lush, walled…

We have reached the Mi-ra-dor de San Ni-co-las, perhaps the most famous viewpoint in all of Spain. From this vantage point, the full glory of the Al-ham-bra is revealed, stretched out across the valley against the backdrop of the…

Descending back toward the city center, we encounter the area of the Al-ca-i-ce-ri-a, the historic silk market. In the Moorish period, this was a fortified maze of over two hundred shops, protected by ten gates, where the most…

Our final stop in the Al-ba-ee-theen region is the adjacent district of Sac-ro-mon-te, famous for its cave dwellings and its deep connection to the Roma, or gypsy, people. For centuries, these hillsides have been home to families…

As you descend from the Al-ba-ee-theen and return to the modern streets of Gra-na-da, take a moment to look back up at the hill. You have just walked through a neighborhood that has survived over a thousand years of tumult,…