Churriana de la Vega

Churriana de la Vega lies between green poplar groves and the Río Genil on the plains, just 7 kilometres from Granada. This town has an interesting historical and artistic legacy. It has some Arab baths, the Via Crucis and an old laundry, which are all worth a visit.

The agricultural tradition of Churriana has given rise to its nickname “paradise valley”. It has many town squares and gardens, lovely places for recreation and relaxation, all within the town.

Salvador Povedano Sanchez, known as ‘Frascuelo’ was born here in 1843. He was one of the most famous bullfighters and performed in bullrings all over Spain.

There are no written records of Churriana de la Vega until the 14^th century, when the chronicler Ibn al-Khatib’s refers to it in his manuscripts. So the first written references are from the Middle Ages, a period in which it was a farmstead. The town was the place of many battles and skirmishes due to its proximity to Granada. Between the 13^th and 14^th centuries, the city enjoyed a period of economic expansion, based on agricultural production and industry. But the war of Granada and the Reconquista affected Churriana, and it finally surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs.

The town played an important role in the history of Nasrid Kingdom. It was the meeting point of the delegations of Boabdil and the Catholic Monarchs. At this meeting the terms of the capitulations of Granada were agreed. In 1510 the names of Jurliana and Jurriana appear in parish registers, probably a derivative of the town’s current name, which was first mentioned with its current spelling in 1520. The invasion of the French in the 19^th century slowed the growth of the town, but as soon as they were gone, Churriana began to flourish once more.

Here juicy fruits and vegetables are grown and are used in all kinds of recipes such as cabbage stew and migas. Local pastries include French toast, doughnuts, fritters and fried milk.