BAZA, a town of southern Spain, in the province of Granada. Pop. The town overlooks a fertile vega belonging to the Hoya de Baza, one of the largest of the structural basins of upper Andalusia. The ancient collegiate church of San Maximo occupies the traditional site of a cathedral founded by the Visi gothic king Reccared about 600, and afterwards converted into a mosque. There is a brisk local trade in farm produce, and in the linen, hempen goods and pottery manufactured in Baza. Sul phurous springs exist in the vicinity.
Baza, the Roman Basti, was made a bishopric prior to the Council of Elvira, held in 302, at which the attendance of its bishop is recorded. The Batza of the Muslim period, it became one of the three leading cities of the kingdom of Granada. Its siege by the Catholic Sovereigns in 1489 was accordingly critical for the continuance of the Muslim power in Spain ; the Grand Turk intervened, and both siege and defence were maintained by the sale of the jewels of the ladies on the respective sides. The siege ended with the fall of the city on Dec. 4, 1489.