Cijuela

Cijuela is situated in the western part of Granada, surrounded by wide spaces and full of poplars and orchards, with the Río Genil running through it. The town is situated on the A-92 and is on the western edge of the Vega de Granada. It is an area of flat land that the Arabs used to call “the small plain”.

In the 10^th century the town played an important role in the building of an advanced irrigation system that carried water to the entire area through a complex network of canals and ditches. The soil of the area is very fertile, resulting in farming being the mainstay of its economy.

Cijuela dates back to the Arab period and its name comes from the word zujuela, which means “small plain”. It is believed that the founder of the Kingdom of Granada, King Muhammad ben Alhamar, could from this town, control the irrigation systems and canals built by Al-Haken II in the 10^th century and later extended by Yusuf I in the 11^th century. In the 13^th century this king also increased the number of drains and further organised the distribution of water. His successors populated these lands with mulberry trees to feed silkworms. The silk industry in Granada was so important that it became the main form of trade with Genoa, Venice and other Italian states.

In 1431 Don Alvaro de Luna fought to conquer the Vega de Granada, which culminated in the Battle de la Higueruela. In this batte the Nasrid tower, the Torre de Cijuela was destroyed – only ruins remain today. During the 15^th century it was the residence of the sister of King Boabdil, Ceti Haxa. Once the Christians arrived from different parts of Spain to repopulate the area, the traditional crops were not grown anymore. The municipality grew poorer and the population declined. It became a town of some importance once again, illustrated by the construction of two high defensive towers that also no longer remain. It was not until the 19^th century when it got its municipality status and the population stabilised.

Here vegetables such as courgettes grow in abundance. Local dishes include various salads made with white beans and leeks. It is also well known for stews and soups, such as the delicious chickpea and wheat soup.