Discover Escoznar: History between the mountain foothills and the Vega de Granada

Between the Montes Occidentales and the Vega de Granada

Located at the foot of the Montes Occidentales, Escóznar borders the Vega de Granada. The layout and origins of Escóznar are Muslim. Escóznar is also home to the parish church Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís-Escóznar-Obéilar. Here, the landscape and local history provide two specific ways of discovering an Andalusian village, without having to choose between urban history and a rural setting.

Arab Origins and Historical Layers

Escóznar’s origins date back to the Arab period; the village belonged to the territory of Íllora. The place name is thought to derive from the Arabic Išquẓnar. Escóznar was also one of the former alquerías mentioned by Ibn al-Jaṭīb in the 14th century. Those interested in culture can consider the Arab origins and the Roman villa as two distinct historical subjects.

El Tesorillo de Escóznar

Another historical layer can be found at the archaeological site of El Tesorillo de Escóznar. Six settlement and land-use phases were identified there, ranging from prehistory to the present day. The villa complex comprised three buildings for the production and storage of olive oil. The Roman settlement belonged to the pars fructuaria, an area for processing and transforming products within an early Imperial-era villa, namely from the 1st to the 3rd century AD.

Festivals, Education and Local History

The patron saint festivities in Escóznar, held in honour of Saint Francis, take place on the fourth weekend. The history of local education also goes back a long way: the schools of Granada, Escóznar and Asquerosa remained in operation until the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. In 1879, Alhama visited Escóznar for the first time; there, he had built a church and a school. Together with the parish and the historical traces, this creates a picture of a village where religious, educational and community themes stand side by side. The fourth weekend of the patron saint festivities provides a specific time reference for travel planning.

Events and Regional Connections

The Villa de Escóznar race passed through prominent locations and the peri-urban area of Escóznar, reached neighbouring Obéilar, and followed both local and rural roads. It was a joint project of the local neighbourhood association and C.D. Kilometroypico, intended to promote sport among young people from Escóznar and the neighbouring villages of Valderrubio, Obéilar and Láchar. At the race, the transition between local and rural roads can serve as a spatial guide to the regional route. Bus route 335 comprises three routes on the Granada – Fuente Vaqueros – Valderrubio – Escóznar – Obéilar section. The three routes of line 335 add a designated connection between Granada, Fuente Vaqueros, Valderrubio, Escóznar and Obéilar to this regional context.

Other Places in Andalusia

Other places in Andalusia: Cuevas Del Campo, Cádiar, Lentegí, La Ermita, Busquístar, Churriana De La Vega, Alquife and Darro.

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.