A TOURIST has been charged after allegedly damaging a 16th-century building in the heart of Granada.

Officers from the Policia Local used nearby CCTV footage to identify the man, who has been placed under arrest.

The suspect, who was visiting from the Basque Country, is accused of spraying the word ‘Paula’ on the Aljibe del Zenete building.

The Aljibe del Zenete is a cistern of mudejar style classified as Good of Cultural Interest (BIC), located in the historic neighbourhood of Albaicin, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

READ MORE: Granada’s Alhambra ordered to pay €2m after foreign tourist, 18, was paralysed by falling tree at Spain’s iconic monument

The reason behind the message remains unclear.

The mudejar architectural style grew in the Iberian Peninsula between the 12th and 16th centuries, blending Islamic art with Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance traditions.

Several renowned buildings display the style, including the Alcazar in Sevilla.

As for the arrested, a press note from the Policia Nacional of Granada reminds that the new local law mandates a fine from €3,000 to up to €30,050 depending on the gravity of the case.

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