Monuments & History of Granada.

History of Granada

Successive kings of Granada sought political support and military aid from Morocco. Moroccan recruits caused the kingdom to undergo an intense process of ‘Arabization’, to break free from all Castilian influences, and to develop an absolute form of government based on military support.

The central government’s economic resources depended mainly on the silk industry and on external trade; the latter flourished because of the fortunate position of the chief port, Málaga, on the route from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Granada paid close attention to the Strait of Gibraltar; for a whole century its rulers made efforts to secure control of the straits, establishing allies at different times with both Morocco and Castile.

In 1306 Muhammad III (ruled 1302-09), then in possession of Ceuta and Gibraltar, seemed to have succeeded, but a powerful coalition soon reduced him to the modest position of vassal of the king of Castile. After 1340, when the battle of Río Salado settled the question of the straits in Castile’s favour, Granada adopted a policy of isolation, taking advantage of any propitious circumstance to strengthen its land frontiers. It was in this period that Yusuf I (ruled 1333-54) and Muhammad V (ruled 1354-59 and 1362-91) finished building the Alhambra.

The city’s name may have been derived either from the spanish granada, meaning pomegranate, a locally abundant fruit that appears on the city’s coat of arms. It is also possible that it was derived from its Moorish name, Karnattah (Gharnatah), possibly meaning “hill of strangers.” Granada was the site of an Iberian settlement, Elibyrge, in the 5th century BC and of the Roman Illiberis. As the seat of the Moorish kingdom of Granada, it was the final stronghold of the Moors in Spain, falling to the Roman Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I in January 1492.

Museums

La Alhambra Museum

Housed in the Palace of Carlos V within the Alhambra, this museum contains outstanding Hispano-Moorish works of art from the 9th to the 16th centuries including ceramics, wood, plaster, and metals. In addition, there is a section of Oriental Moorish art. Palace of Carlos V. Alhambra.

Microbus-Alhambra. Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 2:30pm

Telephone: 958 22 62 79

Museums of Fine Arts

This museum preserves important works of art dating back from the 16th century, including pieces by Alonso Cano and Machuca. Especially noteworthy is the sculpture El Entierro de Cristo (The Burial of Christ) by Jacobo Florentino. Other art objects from former convents and churches in Granada can also be admired. Palace of Carlos V. Alhambra.

Microbus-Alhambra. Open: Summer (April through September): Tuesday 2:30pm to 7:45pm. Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 7:45pm. Sunday 9am to 2pm. Winter (October through March): Tuesday 2:30pm to 6pm. Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 6pm. Sunday 9am to 2pm.

Telephone: 958 22 48 43

Royal Chapel Museum

This museum houses important works of great historical and artistic value, including the crown and sceptre of Queen Isabella and a priceless collection of panels from the Flemish School, a gift from the Queen to Granada.

Cathedral. Buses 3, 4 & 8.

Open: 10am to 1pm and 3:30pm to 6pm. From April to September afternoon hours are 4 to 7pm.

Telephone: 958 22 92 39

Rodríguez-Acosta Foundation

A collection of decorative arts, important archeological artifacts, and some works by the Granada native painter José María Rodríguez-Acosta are on display.

Callejón del Niño del Royo, Microbus-Alhambra.

Advanced booking for visits is necessary. Open: 10am to 1:30pm.

Telephone: 958 22 74 97

Archeological Museum

A collection of artifacts from the prehistoric era to Tartessian, Phoenician and Iberian cultures.

Carrera del Darro, 41.

Microbus-Albaicín. Open: Tuesday 3pm to 8pm, Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 8pm, Sunday 9am to 2:30pm.

Telephone: 958 22 56 40

Alhambra

The Alambra is a must-see in Granada and was recently nominated to become one of the seven wonders of the world. It is a massive castle constructed over many centuries. It consists of gardens, fortifications and sumptuous palaces. It was the home of many of the Arabic Sultans who ruled the whole province so it can be assumed that for centuries it received the optimum in interior decoration and architecture. If you read the Koran it continually repeats the idea that heaven is a garden with running water. From this perspective you could say that the Alhambra is an Arabic attempt to create heaven on earth. Nowadays it receives 8000 visitors per day and is Spain’s most visited monument.

The Albaicín is the old Arabic quarter located on the hill opposite the Alhambra. It is characterised by cobble stoned streets with white washed houses. Despite several centuries of neglect and architectural barbarities allowed by the town council, it still retains a strong Arabic feeling. (the Arabic population was ethnically cleansed just over 500 years ago) There are many squares with terraces and places to laze about and have a bite to eat. The Albaicín is an oil painter’s paradise and almost at every angle there is an attractive view, almost always involving glimpses of the Alhambra.

More info & Tickets: http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/

Town Hall (Ayuntamiento), installed in a former convent of the Carmelite Order finished in 1627.

Corral del Carbón, at Calle Mariana Pineda number 40 a former Moorish corn exchange and inn from the 13th century, featuring a splendid archway entrance. Standing in the Plaza de Isabel la Católica, there is a monument to Queen Isabella accompanying Columbus, the work of Mariano Benlliure in 1892 to commemorate the discovery of America four hundred years earlier.

Royal Chancery, built in 1530, according to a design by Diego de Siloé with a façade by the stonemason Martín Díaz and the sculptor Alfonso Hernández. Two of the most interesting itineraries start at this Plaza: one leads to the Sacromonte and the Albaicín and the other to the Alhambra and Generalife.

Gate of Las Granadas, has three arches and was built in 1536 by Pedro Machuca by order of Carlos V. On the other side of the gate, we find ourselves in the woodlands of the Alhambra, where three paths branch off. The pathway to the right leads to the Bermejas Towers, the oldest fortress in Granada; the center path goes to the Generalife; and the one to the left takes us to the beautiful Pilar de Carlos V Fountain, a 16th century Renaissance design by Pedro Machuca.

Palace of Carlos V by Pedro Machuca is standing. Its sober, solid Renaissance style contrasts with the delicate Nasrid palaces. The building was intended to be a symbol of the empire that carlos V aspired to create. The building has a square ground plan and is organized around a magnificent circular courtyard. The palace also houses the Alhambra and Fine Arts Museums. The Wine Gate provides access to the high part of the Alhambra; the main side with the pointed horseshoe arch faces the Alcazaba. The esplanade on the other side is called the Square of the Cisterns (Plaza de los Aljibes)

La Alcazaba Fortress, along with the Bermejas Towers, is the oldest structure of the complex. It dates from the 13th century and was built over the remains of ancient fortifications. Large towers rise atop the fortress, the most famous being the Watchtower, where the Catholic monarchs installed a bell which tolled the irrigation shifts on the fertile plain of Granada. This tower occupies the highest point of the Alhambra. It is worth the climb to reach the upper platform and enjoy the magnificent view. In the interior of La Alcazaba, we find the Arms square or Courtyard called Plaza de Armas, and to the left a 17th century garden known as the Garden of Los Adarves. Leaving through the Wine gate and crossing the garden in front of the Palace of Carlos V, there are stairs to descend to the Royal Nasrid Palaces which occupy the lowest and most northern part of the hill. The Palaces consist of communicating structures around the Courtyard of the Lions and Courtyard of the Myrtles; each of the three parts is devoted to a specific function of palace life. The Mexuar was concerned with the administration of the kingdom and also served as the court of justice where the Emirs and their Ministers met in council; the Serrallo or Comares Palace was the official residence of the sultan; and the Harem, the third area, consisted of the private apartments.

Comares Palace, the most important of the three palaces, built by the sultan Abul-Hachach- Yusuf I. Its façade is exquisite. In the center of the palace there is the Courtyard of the Myrtles with a large pool. The residences of the Comares palace are situated around the courtyard. Behind the north gallery is the Comares Tower. The next room is the Hall of the Boat and located on the main floor is the Hall of Ambassadors which consists of 142 white marble columns with cubic capitals, the semi-circular horseshoe and stalactite arches, the stucco decoration, the magnificent plaster work of the vaults and, in the center of the courtyard, the Fountain of the Lions that gives it is name.

Generalife, built in the 14th century and surrounded by splendid terraced gardens with fountains, pools and spouting water. It was the summer residence of the Nasrid Kings. The Cypress and Adelfas Promenades lead us to the Palace; a small building consisting of two pavilions connected by a gallery and some of the residences. In the center is the Courtyard of La Acequia.

The Cathedral was built between 1518 and 1704, and although the original vision was that of the Gothic style, most of the structure is Renaissance. It has a basilica ground plan, and the 17th century façade, composed of three large arches, was the work of Alonso Cano and evokes the great Roman triumphal arches. In the interior the lovely Main Chapel can be seen.

The Royal Chapel is also on the Calle de los Oficios and houses the Tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, the Tombs of Juana de Castilla (called Mad Queen Joanna) and Felipe el Hermoso (Philip the Fair), as well as a magnificent altarpiece built in 1520. In the Sacristy we can admire the paintings of the Flemish, Italian and Spanish Schools of the 15th century donated by Queen Isabella.

The Church of El Sagrario is the 1704 reconstruction, forming part of the group of buildings attached to the Cathedral and Royal Chapel. Its ground plan is in the form of a Greek cross, and it contains important paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries. Opposite the royal Chapel, we find the old Palace of La Madraza, from the Arab word Medersa, a Koran school founded by Yusuf I in 1349 and converted by the Catholic monarchs into the Casa de los Cabildos.

The University of Letters was founded by Carlos V in 1526 and today it has been converted into a law school.Real Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé y Santiago date back to the 16^th century.

Church of Los Jerónimos was built at the beginning of the 16th century. Its Gothic cloister and the Gothic-Renaissance cloister of the monastery, the magnificent dome and the altarpiece of the main altar are a few of its interesting features.

Church and Hospital of San Juan de Dios. The church is considered one of the most important Baroque structures in the city. Its Churrigueresque-style altarpiece of carved wood is especially noteworthy. The mortal remains of San Juan de Dios (Saint John of God) have been laid to rest here.

Convent of the Merced Calzada, founded by the Catholic monarchs, is located on the Calle Acera de San Ildefonso and has a 17th century courtyard. On the same street, we also encounter the Church of San Ildefonso with a doorway designed by Diego de Siloé and carved by Juan de Alcántara.

Carthusian Monastery

In the Plaza de Santa Ana the Church of Santa Ana is loacted, built in 1537 by Diego de Siloé with considerable mudéjar influences (a mixture of Moorish and Christian styles).

We hope you enjoy your trip to Granada!

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