Alhóndiga, or funduq in Arabic, is a caravanserai, in other words, an inn where merchants would rest along their long journeys. These were extremely common all over al-Andalus and the Maghreb. By the 12th century, Granada had evolved into an essential stop for merchants, which explains the presence of various alhóndigas in the city. According to historical documents, Sultan Yusuf I ordered the construction of al-Funduq al-Jadida, a new alhóndiga in 1336. It would be set in a privileged location, near the great bazaar of the medina. In addition to hosting the merchants' sojourning in Granada, it was a warehouse and a point of sale of wheat. Its monumental appearance can be explained by the fact that al-Funduq al-Jadida belonged to the wives of the Nasrid sultans.