Alcaicería
Market in Granada
The Alcaicería is a market in Granada, built on the same location and in the same style of the original Moorish silk market. It is located near to Granada’s Cathedral. The market was rebuilt in 19th century and has local jewelry and souvenirs on offer.
It is an area with a rich history and local culture where interesting and exotic items are still for sale. Think of traditionally painted ceramics, inlaid wood and stained glass lamps. The bazaar of Granada is very touristy and the narrow streets mainly consists of small souvenir and fabric shops. The original bazaar was destroyed by fire in the 19th century and rebuilt in a much reduced form.
A Short History of Alcaicería
The original Alcaicería of Granada was built in the 15th century, and originally, this was a range of streets between the Plaza Nueva and Plaza Bib-Rambla, filled with Arab silk stalls, spices and other valuable goods. It survived until the 1843, when a fire sadly destroyed it, which was started in a workshop selling Granada’s first cardboard matches.
A replica was built, but the result was more pastiche – the new Alcaicería was less than half of its original size, and was a cheaper, modern version of the Moorish style – neo-Moorish. As a result, after a comparatively short time, it is already looking the worse for wear.
What does the Alcaicería look like?
These days the Alcaicería is home to Granada’s souvenir stalls, selling a variety of Arabic craftwork, such as the fajalauza which are traditional local painted ceramics, taracea which are woodendesks, chessboards, or trinket boxes with an inlay, and typical granadino farolas whcicha are stained-glass lamps. You can see a modern take on these lamps throughout the city center; white versions are used as streetlights, and they are found as decoration in teterias or tea rooms, shops, and bars. The Alcaicería’s stalls also offer ethnic clothing the last remnant of the original Grand Bazaar which sold cloth and silks, knick-knacks and souvenir memorabilia. Traces of the old market tradition can be found around Plaza Bib-Rambla with stalls selling Moroccan herbs and spices, fruit, silks and granadino trinkets.
Tours of Alcaicería and its Environs
If you were wondering which tickets and tours are the best ones to explore Granada’s Alcaicería? Check out these popular options:
Where does the name Alcaicería come from?
The name Alcaicería has Roman origins, as it means ‘al-Kaysar-ia, or ‘Ceasar’s place’ in Arabic. This name was to thank the Byzantian emperor Justinianus after he had granted the Arabs the exclusive rights to produce and sell silk in the sixth century. The original Alcaicería was built in the 15th century. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by a fire in the 19th century. The current replica is less than half the size of the original, and is also a cheaper and more modern version of this Moorish style.
Tips for Visiting the Alcaicería
- The area is popular with pickpockets
- You can have your future or your palm read by local gitanas (gypsy women) offering to tell, for a price.
- You can also have your name written in Arabic script.
How to get to the Alcaicería
The Alcaiceria is located next to the Plaza Bib Rambla, near Granada’s Cathedral.
The Alcaicería appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Granada!
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Visiting Alcaicería
Open daily from 10:00 to 21:00.
During the months of June and July closed on Sunday from 15:00.
Closed on sunday from January 6th to March 19th.
Free
Nearby Attractions
- Corral del Carbón (0.1) km
Courtyard and Market in Granada - Royal Chapel of Granada (0.1) km
Church and Tomb in Granada - Granada Cathedral of the Incarnation (0.1) km
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City Gate and City Walls in Granada - Torre de los Hidalgos (0.6) km
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