Granada

GRANADA (Spa. Granada) I. Old kingdom of Spain, in Andalusia, which today includes the three provinces of Malaga, Granada and Almeria, and limited on the S. and on the E. by the Mediterranean sea; its utmost length is approximately 280 kil. and its utmost width approximately 110 kil.; 28.600 square kil. The Sierra-Nevada mountains run across from E. to W. and one of them, the Cerro de Mulhacen (3.750 m.), is the highest point of Spain. Main rivers: Genil, Almanzora and Guadalorze. Agriculture is the inhabitants’ main occupation; silk factories. Under the Moorish dynasty, founded in 1238, Granada formed a wealthy, civilized and powerful kingdom, which was overthrown by Ferdinand the Catholic in 1492.
- II. Modern province of southern Spain, between those of Malaga and Almeria; 12.787 square kil.; population 485.000. Mountainous territory.
- III. Capital city of this province and of the old kingdom of Granada, on two declivities of the Sierra-Nevada, 600 m. above sea level, 45 kil. away from the Mediterranean sea, 310 kil. S. from Madrid; population approximately 68.000. The Darro river runs through it and flows into the Genil, outside its walls. This old Moorish city looks remarkably picturesque. Granada includes the city itself, the Alhambra suburb, the Albaycin suburb and the Antequeruela suburb. Its streets are winding and narrow, but the houses are well built in the ancient oriental style. It holds remarkable churches and palaces and a university. The most magnificent monument of its past splendour is the Alhambra, former palace of the Moorish kings. (see ALHAMBRA). Granada was founded by the Moors in the X th century and, as from 1238, it remained the capital of the kingdom of Granada until the beginning of year 1492, when it was taken by Ferdinand and Isabel after a prolonged siege. It is claimed that at the height of its splendour, its population was around 500.000.

Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891