Carmen del Aljibe del Rey - Fundación AguaGranada
Eleventh-century Moorish cistern where eels and turtles once kept the royal water supply clean.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to the Carmen del Aljibe del Rey in Granada poses a puzzle at an eleventh-century cistern built for the Zirid emir Badis ibn al-Mansur: why would a king let his drinking water share space with river creatures for centuries. It traces the water's route from the Fuente Grande spring near Alfacar along the Aynadamar channel into the Albaicin, and why this became the largest cistern in the district, with a privilege granted to no other. Look up at the small opening in the vault above.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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