San Juan de Ávila Trail. My Granada

Juan de Ávila, known as the “Apostle of Andalusia,” was a great preacher, humanist reformer, spiritual guide, confessor, ascetic, and mystic; he was the most sought-after advisor in Spain during the 16th century.

He studied law at the University of Salamanca and theology at the University of Alcalá de Henares, where new trends in humanist philosophical thought forever changed the perspective on human beings, their abilities and values, and their relationships with the world around them.

He was ordained a priest in 1526. From 1535 until his death, he remained associated with the Diocese of Córdoba, although his actions and work would leave a profound mark on all of Andalusia, especially in Granada, where he studied and helped organize new educational institutions for the evangelization of a city where Hispano-Muslim culture was still very much alive and present among the Morisco population of the Albaicín.

The places where his most significant work is concentrated are: Baeza, Montilla, and Granada, and it is in this city, Granada, where our tour rediscovers the profoundly important contributions that Juan de Ávila made to our history, leaving a deep mark on Granada. On this unique tour, we’ll discover the places in Granada where Father Ávila left his mark, helping us to better understand the history of Granada and its leading role not only in Spain but also in 16th-century Europe.

Among all his significant contributions, it is worth highlighting the university he founded in Baeza, as well as his substantial and decisive contribution to the second and third sessions of the Council of Trent, through his friend, the Archbishop of Granada, Don Pedro Guerrero.

Thanks to his biographer and personal friend, Fray Luis de Granada, we discover a deeply consistent and powerful human being who stood out for his remarkable ability to stir people’s consciences through his preaching and thus awaken the spiritual dimension in those who listened to him in his homilies or in confession.

Father Ávila was an indispensable role model for many illustrious figures, ranging from King Philip II, the nobility, and the clergy to the humblest parishioners—and even the most overlooked: Moriscos, children, and women.

Let yourself be captivated by Father and Teacher Ávila, who loved Granada so much that he affectionately called it “My Granada.”

Language available for the tour: Spanish.

A YouTube video produced by the archdiocese's media team.

https://vatelevision.com