Baza

Baza is located in the largest municipality in the province of Granada, in the north. It is the main town in the northeast of Granada and falls under the Episcopal Diocese of Guadix and Baza.

Because of its long history, it has many archaeological sites and monuments of great historical and cultural value, such as the Iberian-Roman city of Basti and its two burial grounds, in one of which La Dama de Baza, a statue dating from the century 4^th century BC, was discovered.

The varied countryside surrounding Baza offers the Sierra de Baza, which was declared a Natural Park in 1989, with peaks up to 2,000 meters in altitude; the semi-desert landscapes of the Altiplano; and the green oasis of the Vega. This spectacular natural variety allows visitors to take part in all sorts of outdoor activities from hiking and biking to paragliding. Baza also offers visitors the opportunity to stay in a unique cave dwelling to get a real taste of local life.

The city of Baza was founded in the 4^th century B.C. by the Iberian people of Basti. In the Iberian period it was a wealthy town and was the capital of  the area known as La Bastetania, a vast territory strechting from eastern Andalusia to southeast Murcia.

During the Roman Empire Baza became a great commercial centre and in 713 it was occupied by the Arabs, who called it Medinata Bastha. Here they built a fortress to protect their medina. Today’s barrio de Santiago neighbourhood dates back to that time and here one can see beautifully preserved Arab baths (13^th century).

From the 12^th century until 1234 the city was home to the Almohads, until it was taken by Ibn al-Ahmar, the first Moorish king of Granada. It reached its peak during the reign of Muhammad V in the mid-14^th century. It later lost importance due to military instability until it fell to the Catholic Monarchs after a siege that lasted more than seven months, which finally ended on 4^th December 1489, the feast day of St. Barbara, patron saint of the area.

Many years later the Moors were expelled and new settlers repopulated the town. From the 17^th century onwards, the city entered a period of lethargy from which it only recovered slowly.

The area is known for its cakes. Gurupina (cod with potatoes), Testuz (stew with beans and beans) and Gurullos (a partridge or hare dish) are all delicious. The town has a strong baking tradition, and delicacies include chocolate croquettes, Bienmesabe and Christmas sweets.