Whenever the coexistence of the three cultures is mentioned, we certainly refer to Christian, Jewish and Muslim culture.
Actually this legend or myth is considered as real, just like we believe that in some periods, when Spain, or Granada in this case, was a Muslim territory, we lived in peace and harmony. Since it’s true that in some periods we enjoyed peace and respect among cultures, this wasn’t permanent. Throughout the text this should be figured out.
Had the 3 cultures coexist?
It’s pretty accurate to claim that Spanish romans also known as mozárabs lived in Muslim Granada. After the fall of Almohads, the dynasty of Nasrid was implemented, and it was this dinasty the one who provide the current relevance of the Kingdom of Granada and became the ally of Castile.
Consequently the treaties with Castile, Granada were populated by Castilians and mainly Jewish merchants. Nevertheless they were always a minority just as it happens today.
Furthermore with the Castilians victory of the Muslim territory in the peninsula, several Spanish Muslims arrived in Granada.
After the fall of Nasrid Kingdom in 1492, Muslims started to be mentioned as mudéjares. Jews were expelled from the Christian Kingdom and shortly converted as Christians all the Muslims.
For the reason being it can be supposed that if ever three cultures coexisted, this definitely happened in Nasrid Kingdom due to the political pressures that made this dynasty agree with Castile.
The architectural concept
When exploring Granada nowadays we quickly realise the architecturally mixture of three cultures or even more. It’s a fact that it has been difficult to spot equality in terms of cohabitation between cultures that previously lived in Granada. However, they always have been respected.
Thus, nowadays we can visit places such the Jewish neighbourhood, El Realejo. Further, the Christian neighbourhood, which is the city centre of Granada with everything built after the XVI century. Moreover, the Muslim neighbourhood, el Albaicín, which despite the Christians wished to dominate Granada by collpasing or converting mosques into Christian churches, it has always been highly respected and considered as historical heritage.
Granada has more quarters from other cultures adding to those three, since gypsies lived here from the XVI century. The Sacromonte is the classic gipsy neighbourhood of Granada, while the ravine of blacks shows evidence of sub-Saharan populations whom also played a role in the history of the city.