The Arab Alcaicería Market is one of the oldest markets in Granada. It existed in times of Islamic Spain, when silk was actively marketed here, but in 1843 it was completely burned, but later it was rebuilt with a slightly different look. In the course of the reconstruction work, sketches and schematic drawings of the original construction were used to preserve the ancient environment as much as possible. Cloth items, traditional oriental souvenirs, jewelry, tableware, jewelry, chess, wall and hand clocks and other items are still sold today. Sellers come mainly from Morocco and other countries in North Africa. The market is very popular with tourists, so it is always full.
The Alcaicería market is located to the right of the main facade of the cathedral and is a true maze of many alleys and passageways. Many years ago, the Muslim business district was protected from the rest of the city by an impressive wall with huge doors closed at night, on the same principle as traditional caravans, and in Christian times it even housed the governor's residence. In the 16th century, there were around 200 shops selling silk products, but with the decline in their production, counters with cloth, leather, gold and other goods began to appear little by little. After a fire in 1843, the Alcaecería was restored for a long time, and the authors of this process were several architects, the most famous of whom were Salvador Amador and José Contreras.
The assortment of the Arab Alcaecería Market is very wide and you can walk for hours. Even without the goal of mass shopping, it's worth taking a walk just to experience the extraordinary atmosphere of this place. The vendors of the local shops, despite some inconvenience, are very friendly and can easily offer an interested guest a cup of hot coffee or tea. The Alcaecería market is one of the most colorful attractions in Granada and worth visiting.
Address: Calle Alcaiceria, 1, 3, 18001 Granada, Spain
