Granada, Spain is one of the most historically significant cities in Spain. Dating from the 7th century, Granada is known for its impressive Islamic heritage and for containing some of the earliest mosques in Spain. Granada, which means “regnal” in Spanish, is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Spain and boasts of traces of pre-Christian history dating back to the fifth century. Granada is also the birth place of Christianity and is considered as one of the key cities in the history of the religion. The city has been a cultural hotspot throughout history with many famous works by such artists as Salvador Dali and Picasso being situated here.
Granada History. Archaeological studies conducted at Granada in 1916 proved that the city was inhabited from the Palaeolithic age till the early Mesolithic period. Early archaeological finds dating from the Palaeolithic era, Mesolithic or Neolithic, are available on display at the Museo Arqueol gas (the Archaeological museum). From the latter period, Granada history can be dated all the way to the eighth century AD. During this period, Arabs were in charge of the city’s defense while local Arabs did not hesitate to build palaces and ensure that water supplies did not run dry.
Granada’s role in history is further highlighted by the fact that it is the site of the only seven-day desert journey of the early Biblical period. This journey, known as the Desert Journey, ended at the ancient city of Qumran, where the Book of Ruth was penned. The significance of this desert journey can be understood by the fact that during this journey the people of Samaria did not carry anything except for water to the point of drinking camel milk which had become very rich during this time. This fact made it very important for the people of Granada that their Granada palace was well supplied with water for flushing away sand and salt from the newly built fortress. Granada was also the place of birth for numerous notable personalities like Columbus, Marco Polo, Magellan etc.
In the recent past, there has been a lot of development in Spain and its Moorish provinces in particular. As a consequence, the number of tourists visiting Spain has grown phenomenally. At the same time, there have been numerous proposals to develop certain sections of Spain, particularly the coastal region, into tourist destinations. In response to this demand, in 2020, the Government of Spain announced the building of a marina in Granada, an idea which came from the demands of the local fishing communities who wanted to benefit from increased tourism.
Besides Granada, a few other Moorish towns like Almeria, Cordoba, and Seville have also been granted with historical sites and monuments which should be included in future tourist itineraries. The inclusion of such sites and monuments has given an entire new dimension to tourist travel in Spain. As a result, all types of travelers, be they historians or vacationers, are now exploring the rich history and fantastic locations that make up Spain. Indeed, the arrival of the Romans in Spain and the spread of Roman influence throughout the country, have left a deep impression on the Spanish people and on the rest of the world as well.
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Granada’s magnificent history and picturesque location have also made it a popular destination for film shoots. In fact, almost all big budget movies which are released in Spain incorporate parts in Granada and Seville as their backdrop. Another reason that makes Granada such a favored location for movie shoots is the availability of space. With a total area of just over eight thousand square kilometers, Granada is considered to be one of the best places in Spain to shoot films. All in all, the role that Granada plays in Spain and in particular in the Moorish provinces is considerable.
