The name Albayzín is derived from the Arabic word “al-Bayyazín”, which is synonymous with “the falconers” except the bird is somewhat larger and called “al-Baz”. Albayzín was rebuilt by Arab settlers around the eleventh century after it was abandoned by the Romans, who had previously settled in it about two millennia ago. Albayzín’s highest plateau is at Plaza San Nicolas, which faces the magnificent Alhambra citadel and is a 10-minutes walk from Academia Flamenco.

Granada, being nestled in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, adds a special charm to its topography. From almost every angle of the city, you can view its beautiful winding narrow streets as well as the snow-covered mountain tops. Granada is known for its active nightlife and festive environment. Local and international festivals run all year round, ranging from dance, singing, acting, film, to religious festivals. Street performances are all over the city, whether opposite to the Alhambra in the higher plateau of Albayzín, or down on the main streets of the more modern quarters, such as Plaza Nueva.

In Granada, Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) wrote all his mature works. Of his operas, La Vida Breve, is set in Granada. It is where the poet and playwright Federico García Lorca (1898-1936) lived and composed his masterpieces and who also was one of the great admirers of the Roma communities that preserved the flamenco traditions. Many 20th century composers and performers visited or resided in the city, among whom were Giuseppe Verdi, Maurice Ravel, Arthur Rubinstein, Mikhail Glinka, and Isaac Albéniz. It is the city where Andrés Segovia learned in his youth to play the guitar. It is where the Mexican composer and poet Agustín Lara was inspired by the musical life of Granada to create the most famous of his compositions, the city’s official hymn. Each year the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance offers outstanding performances and shows by artists in various genres. Among Granada’s world famous flamenco artists are Enrique & Estrella Morente, Juan Habichuela, Marina Heredia, and Mario Maya. In rock music, few of the most notable are Miguel Ríos, Lagartija Nick, Los Planetas. and Niños Mutantes. Granada is also a host to few jazz and blues bands, the Granada City Orchestra, the centennial Municipal Music Band of Granada, the Granada Baroque Orchestra, and various chamber groups and choirs.

Grand theaters testify to the Granadians’ appreciation of music and culture, such as the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Granada, the Carlos I Amphitheater, the Sala García Lorca, the Manuel de Falla Auditorium, the Isabel la Católica Municipal Theater, the Federico García Lorca Center, and the Alhambra Theater, and not the least the open air Generalífe Theater, and the Arab era theatre of the Corral del Carbón.

The short documentary below narrates in the Spanish language a brief history of Granada that sheds some light on its medieval Near Eastern legacy.