Churriana de la Vega

Churriana de la Vega is situated between groves of verdant poplar and the peaceful flow of the river Genil, in the Vega of Granada, just 7 kilometers from the city of Alhambra. This town has an interesting historical and artistic legacy, beginning with the Arab baths and continuing along the century old Via Crucis with its ancient laundry. This picturesque scene and its agricultural tradition caused nearby inhabitants to confer upon Churriana the name ‘paradise of the valley.’ The many plazas and gardens provide breathing spaces for the town, enriching the leisure and recreation of the inhabitants, and give a certain character to the urban aspect.

The legendary bullfighter Povedano Salvador Sanchez, better known as 'Frascuelo', was born here in 1842, and became one of the most legendary bullfighters to grace the Spanish bullrings.

The first written historical sources on Churriana date from the Middle Ages, starting as a large “cortijo or farmhouse in the Kora de Elvira, administrated under the name ‘Clima de la Vega’. The creation of the Nazari kingdom resulted, because of the proximity of Churriana to the capital, in a share in the constant fighting and incidents experienced by the kingdom of Granada . However, in the thirteenth century, especially in the middle years, there was a long period of peace and recovery for all the farms of the valley, lasting until the middle of the 14th century, when the land was under full production and the silk industry was at a peak of production and had reached its greatest expansion. The coming to an end of the Moorish kingdom of Granada, with the Christian reconquest, affected Churriana as it did the other towns and villages in the area. By 1491 famine and the successes of the Catholic Monarchs left the capital virtually encircled, and the Moorish King Boabdil made secret contact with the Christians in order to surrender.

At this time Churriana played an important role since these secret negotiations took place there, between Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba and Fernando de Zafra on behalf of the Catholic Kings, with Ibn Kumaso and Abul-Qasim al Mulih representing Boabdil to take to Santa Fe the Articles of Surrender of Granada. Shortly after, the city keys were handed over, in the church of San Sebastián, near Armilla and Churriana.

In the 19th century the invasion of the town by Napoleon’s troops had a bad affect on the growth of Churriana  The exceptional richness of Churriana led to a particularly heavy tax burden being imposed by the French, together with looting of livestock and agricultural production, leading to local residents staging a different kind of resistance, in the hiding of the production of those years. When the occupying forces left the Vega, on September 16, 1812, Churriana had to start to rebuild the sources of production and great reliance was placed on the efforts of its people to regain progress.

Monuments

Iglesia Parroquial (Parish Church 17th /18th centuries).
Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza (convent,17th century).
Arab Baths.

Archaeological Sites

Remains of the square.

Town planning

Frascuelo Monument.

Gastronomy

Churriana is a land of juicy fruits and vegetables, which are present in dishes such as cabbage stew and migas. Sweet pastries include French toast, donuts, fritters and ‘leche frita’.

Cabbage casserole:
Ingredients for 4 people:
1 kg of cabbage
250 gr. white beans
1 medium potato
2 bones of pig's head
1 piece of fresh pork bacon
1 pork bone
1 piece of pig's ear
1 black pudding sausage.
The white beans should be soaked in water with some salt and left overnight. Do not forget that these should be white beans. Place meat, bacon and pigs ear to boil for half an hour to soften. Add to the pot shredded cabbage, beans, potatoes and pork bone, simmer for about an hour. Five minutes before you remove from heat add the black pudding to prevent bursting and spreading. It is advisable to let it rest before serving.
PS:  rice can he added, according to everyone's taste. To serve some people put aside the cabbage and serve separate to the casserole.
The casseroles and stews are typical of winter, others are usually prepared when the cold gets bad and the need for calories is greater, as in sausage or bacon. Food preparation tends to run with what is in season at the time.

Directions

Leave Granada. At the roundabout, take exit 4 Continue along: E-902 / A-44 direction: Armilla - Motril. Take the exit towards: Exit 131 - Granada - Science Park - Palacio de Congresos - Armilla. Continue: Carretera de Granada. Pass Santa Juliana and Armilla  and continue to Churriana de la Vega.

Distances