El Zaidín is a district located in the South of the city of Granada. It is also known by the name of Zaidín-Vergeles. It is the most populated neighborhood. In the north lie the neighborhoods of Cervantes and Mirasierra, to the west lies Figares neighborhood, to the south lies Armilla and to the east lies La Zubia.
It is formed by the old neighbourhoods of Casillas Bajas, Santa Adela, Vergeles, Madrigales, La Cruzada, Ciudad Jardín, Divina Infantita, Parque de las Infantas and Alminares and Cruz de Lagos, Palacio de Deportes and Campus de la Salud. February 27, 1994 El Zaidín twinned with a small town in Huesca (Aragón, Spain).
El Zaidín is located between two rivers Genil and Monachil, it owes its name to the Arabic term "Saedin" which can translate to «water arm» or «land between rivers». Recent archaeological finds in the Vergeles zone revealed remains of Roman villas of the 1st century.
El Alcázar Genil, thirteenth century Moorish palace, a once very extensive summer residence of the mother of Boabdil, goes unnoticed amongst the buildings. The first houses, aimed at the humble population, were built in 1953 across the Genil, about three kilometers from the center, the result of the municipal policy of expansion towards the Vega.
In the 60's, the neighbourhood grew immensely and without basic facilities. Urban excess is one of the main characteristic of El Zaidín.
It is home to scientific centers such as the Astrophysics Institute of Andalusia and the Experimental Station of Zaidín, both under the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).
El Zaidín has stopped being the humble marginal-workers neighbourhood and hosts the construction of emblematic buildings such as the New Los Carmenes Stadium- home to Granada Football Club-, the Palacio de Deportes-home to Granada Basketball Team-, the Science Park, Palacio de Congresos and the Health Campus in Granada, located in the last acres of Vega in the city.
Zaidin's Rock Festival or Zaidin Rock, is celebrated outdoors in different squares and streets of the neighbourhood and it marks the end of summer and the hosting of the university students. It was created in 1983 by the Asociación de Vecinos del Zaidín-Vergeles (Neighbourhood Association of Zaidín-Vergeles) and is organized by them since. Organising this gives them no profit. Since it's open to everyone and free it encourages the congregation of multitudes year after year.International and national Spanish performers have been on its stage.