Granada

Granada, a province of Spain forming part of what was the old kingdom of Granada, on the N. coast of the Mediterranean, and E. of Malaga and Cordova, and containing 4,937 square miles. The W. and N. constitute parts of the Sierra Nevada, in which rise the Guadiana menor and the Genii flowing into the Guadalquivir, and the Rio Grande flowing into the Mediterranean. The climate of the valleys and of the coast is genial, and the plains, well irrigated from the times of the Moors downwards, are very fertile, producing wheat, bailey, maize, wine, oil, sugar, flax, cotton, silk, and many varieties of fruit. The mining of lend, silver, copper, zinc, and manganese employs many hands. Near the town of Granada are found alabaster, jasper, and other precious stones. Mineral warm springs abound in many places. The principal towns are Granada, Motril, Alhama, Loja, Guadix and Huescar. The town of Granada is situated at the junction of the Darro and the Genii, near the base of the Sierra Nevada, and is built partly in the plain, partly on the slopes. The old town has much that is Moorish, and there are fine squares, as well as a shady walk called the Alameda. The

16th and 17th century cathedral is much ornamented with jeisper, and contains the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella. The church of our Lady has a good high altar and lofty towers. Gonzales de Cordova is buried in the monastery of St. Geronimo. The Carthusian convent contains paintings by Murillo. The climate is pleasant and healthy, but there are few manufactures, and the silk trade, which flourished in the time of the Moors, has well-nigh decayed. Before the conquest in 1492 the Moorish kingdom was very populous, and took in also Malaga and Almeria.