Carmen in the Albayzin

A carmen is a type of house common in the Albayzin area of Granada.  A carmen has some green space, a garden and maybe some fruit trees, which are connected to the house. Carmens are normally  closed to the outside, they are surrounded by walls too high to look over which are usually whitewashed, with lush vegetation. There are many carmens in the  Albaicín and Realejo and often contains many levels because the area is quite hilly.  It is not just a garden, nor is it just an orchard. There are usually many flowers, a water feature and views of the Alhambra. If you wander around the old part of Granada you may be able to see parts of a carmen through the metal gates like in this photo. The owner is usually very proud of the display of flowers which can be seen from the street. You may be able to hear the splashing of a water feature if you listen carefully.

The word "carmen" comes from from the Arabic-Spanish word karm, which, in its broadest sense, means "vineyard", although in Nasrid times it refered to a type of rustic property located outside the city of Granada.