Baza, Granada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baza is a town in the province of Granada in southern Spain. It has 21,000 inhabitants (2003). It is situated at 844 m above sea level, in the Hoya de Baza, a valley of the Sierra Nevada, not far from the Gallego River. The dome-shaped mountain of Javaleon ( Now known as Mount Jabalcón ) overlooks the town from the north-west.

[edit] History

The area around Baza has been settled since prehistoric times. It was there that the impressive Lady of Baza was discovered on 22 July 1971. The city was founded by the Iberians in the 4th century B.C. and named Basti, the name by which it was known in Roman times. As part of the Roman province of Tarraco, it was an important commercial center. Its bishopric was founded in 306, and the ancient church of San Maximo occupies the traditional site of a cathedral founded by the Visigoth king Reccared in about 600 A.D.; the cathedral was converted into a mosque under Islamic rule (713-1489).

Under the Moors, Baza was an important frontier post along the border with the kingdom of Murcia. It was also a major commercial center, with a population upward of 50,000, making it one of the three most important cities in the Kingdom of Granada. In 1489, during the Reconquista, the city fell to Queen Isabella of Castile, after a stubborn defense lasting seven months. Her cannon still adorn the Alameda. On 10 August 1810, French forces under Marshal Soult defeated a large Spanish force near the town.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Coordinates: 37°29′N 2°46′W

edit	Municipalities of Granada
Agrón \| Alamedilla \| Albolote \| Albondón \| Albuñán \| Albuñol \| Albuñuelas \| Aldeire \| Alfacar \| Algarinejo \| Alhama de Granada \| Alhendín \| Alicún de Ortega \| Almegíjar \| Almuñécar \| Alpujarra de la Sierra \| Alquife \| Arenas del Rey \| Armilla \| Atarfe \| Baza \| Beas de Granada \| Beas de Guadix \| Benalúa \| Benalúa de las Villas \| Benamaurel \| Bérchules \| Bubión \| Busquístar \| Cacín \| Cádiar \| Cájar \| Calicasas \| Campotéjar \| Cáñar \| Caniles \| Capileira \| Carataunas \| Cástaras \| Castilléjar \| Castril \| Cenes de la Vega \| Chauchina \| Chimeneas \| Churriana de la Vega \| Cijuela \| Cogollos de Guadix \| Cogollos de la Vega \| Colomera \| Cortes de Baza \| Cortes y Graena \| Cuevas del Campo \| Cúllar \| Cúllar Vega \| Darro \| Dehesas de Guadix \| Deifontes \| Diezma \| Dílar \| Dólar \| Dúdar \| Dúrcal \| El Pinar \| El Valle \| Escúzar \| Ferreira \| Fonelas \| Freila \| Fuente Vaqueros \| Galera \| Gobernador \| Gójar \| Gor \| Gorafe \| Granada \| Guadahortuna \| Guadix \| Gualchos \| Güejar Sierra \| Güevéjar \| Huélago \| Huéneja \| Huéscar \| Huétor Tájar \| Huétor Vega \| Huétor de Santillán \| Illora \| Itrabo \| Iznalloz \| Jayena \| Jerez del Marquesado \| Jete \| Jun \| Juviles \| La Calahorra \| La Malahá \| La Peza \| La Taha \| La Zubia \| Láchar \| Lanjarón \| Lanteira \| Las Gabias \| Lecrín \| Lentegí \| Lobras \| Loja \| Los Guajares \| Lugros \| Lújar \| Maracena \| Marchal \| Moclín \| Molvízar \| Monachil \| Montefrío \| Montejícar \| Montillana \| Moraleda de Zafayona \| Morelábor \| Motril \| Murtas \| Nevada \| Nigüelas \| Nívar \| Ogíjares \| Orce \| Órgiva \| Otura \| Otívar \| Padul \| Pampaneira \| Pedro Martínez \| Peligros \| Píñar \| Pinos Genil \| Pinos Puente \| Polícar \| Polopos \| Pórtugos \| Puebla de Don Fadrique \| Pulianas \| Purullena \| Quéntar \| Rubite \| Salar \| Salobreña \| Santa Cruz del Comercio \| Santa Fe \| Soportújar \| Sorvilán \| Torre-Cardela \| Torvizcón \| Trevélez \| Turón \| Ugíjar \| Valle del Zalabí \| Válor \| Vegas del Genil \| Vélez de Benaudalla \| Ventas de Huelma \| Villamena \| Villanueva Mesía \| Villanueva de las Torres \| Víznar \| Zafarraya \| Zagra \| Zújar