Updated: October 2026
No. At SILENTIA, the immersive night visit to the Cartuja Monastery in Granada, taking photos, filming video or recording the session in any other way is prohibited. The experience lasts 50 minutes, takes place in silence and gathers a maximum of 30 people, and the rule exists to protect the darkness, light and silence that define it.
If you are thinking of booking, it is best to know the rules before you buy: you will know what to expect, what to leave at home and how to enjoy a session designed for listening, not for photographing. This guide gathers the published rules of SILENTIA, the reason behind each one and a practical checklist of what to bring. If you do not yet know what it involves, start with our guide to SILENTIA at the Cartuja of Granada.
SILENTIA rules at a glance
These are the rules to keep in mind for the night visit to the Cartuja in Granada. The information comes from the official page of the experience and the access rules of the session.
| Rule | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| No photos or video | Photographing, filming or recording in any form is prohibited throughout the session. |
| Total silence | There are no narrators or screens. The visit is made in silence, with order and respect. |
| No food or drink | You may not eat or drink during the visit. |
| Staff instructions | Visitors must follow the monastery team’s instructions at all times. |
| Small capacity | 30 people per session, with a single night session on each opening day. |
| Duration | 50 minutes. The meeting point is the cloister. |
Why can’t you take photos at SILENTIA?
The main reason is the very nature of the experience. SILENTIA is not a conventional guided tour: it combines video mapping, conceptual installations and theatrical lighting to guide the visitor’s gaze in the half-light, letting the intensity of the light build the story. A lit phone, a flash or the simple gesture of raising a screen breaks that choreography, both for the person doing it and for those beside them.
There is also a deeper reason. The experience draws on the life of the Carthusian monks, an order founded in the 11th century that understood the monastery as a “built desert”, where silence and solitude are part of prayer. SILENTIA proposes eight spaces and eight silences to approach that way of life, and each of those moments loses force when lived through a camera. The project is part of “Expedición 4.0 al Medievo” (Expedition 4.0 to the Middle Ages), an initiative the Archdiocese of Granada is developing with seven other Spanish dioceses, according to information published by the Archdiocese itself.
Total silence: how to behave during the session
SILENTIA is lived without guides who speak or screens that explain. For 50 minutes, light, sacred music and moments of silence envelop the spaces of the monastery, including the Baroque sacristy. For it to work, the rules ask for order and respect, and for following the staff’s instructions at all times.
What to do
Arrive early at the cloister, which is the meeting point, and let the group settle before it begins. Silence your phone or switch it off before entering, walk slowly and avoid conversation, even in a low voice. If you come as a couple or a group, agree beforehand that the visit is made in silence.
Food and drink
You may not eat or drink during the visit. If you have had an early dinner or arrive thirsty, take care of it before going to the monastery, because the session has no breaks.
What to bring to SILENTIA and what to leave at home
There is no official list of permitted or prohibited items beyond the rules above, so this table collects practical recommendations based on what the session is like.
| Worth bringing | Better to avoid |
|---|---|
| Your ticket on your phone or printed, with the date and time checked | Flash, tripods and any recording equipment |
| Comfortable clothes and shoes that make no noise when walking | Shoes or accessories that sound as you walk |
| A warm layer, since it is a stone monastery and a night visit | Bringing food or drink to the session |
| Enough time to reach the cloister | Arriving right at the start time |
Children at SILENTIA
Children under 12 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a family member, except in school groups. Children are asked to stay quiet and not to run around the premises. Since the session is long for a small child and has no breaks, consider whether yours can keep quiet for 50 minutes before booking. You can check the remaining prices on the rates page.
Price, booking and date changes
General admission costs €18 and the reduced rate is €15 (students under 25 with ID, people with a certified disability and large families). Places are limited, so it is best to book ahead through the official SILENTIA booking calendar. Tickets are non-refundable, except when access to the monument is not possible because of religious services. To find out when each session starts, check the visiting hours information: the time depends on sunset.
SILENTIA versus the daytime visit to the Cartuja
If you want to walk through the Cartuja in natural light and at your own pace, the daytime visit is a different experience, with its own page and its own conditions. This table summarises the most relevant differences.
| SILENTIA (night) | Daytime visit | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Video mapping, installations and theatrical light, no narrators | Self-paced tour of the monastery |
| Capacity | 30 people per session | No session capacity published in this guide |
| General admission | €18 | €7 |
| Photos during the visit | Prohibited | Check the conditions on the monastery page |
| More information | SILENTIA page | Cartuja Monastery page |
If the contemplative side of the monastery appeals to you, you can also read why the Cartuja has become a refuge for silent retreats in Granada, or see how SILENTIA fits among the things to do in Granada at night.
Frequently asked questions about the SILENTIA rules
Can you take photos at SILENTIA?
No. Taking photos, videos or any other type of recording during the visit is prohibited, in order to preserve the immersive atmosphere of the experience.
Can you talk during the night visit to the Cartuja?
SILENTIA is a silent experience, with no narrators or screens. Visitors are asked to keep order, behave respectfully and follow the staff’s instructions at all times.
Can you eat or drink during SILENTIA?
No. The rules of the experience exclude food and drink during the session.
What should I do with my phone during SILENTIA?
The published rule prohibits photographing and recording. As a practical measure, silence your phone or switch it off before entering and keep it away for the 50 minutes of the session.
Can children attend SILENTIA?
Yes. Children under 12 accompanied by a family member are admitted free of charge, except in school groups. They are asked to stay quiet and not to run around the premises.
How long is SILENTIA and how many people join each session?
The session lasts 50 minutes and capacity is limited to 30 people per session.
Where is the SILENTIA meeting point?
The meeting point is the cloister of the Cartuja Monastery. There is a single session per night and its time depends on daylight.
Can I cancel or change my SILENTIA ticket?
Tickets are non-refundable, except when access to the monument is not possible because of religious services. Choose your date carefully before buying.
Ready to experience SILENTIA? Choose your date in the official SILENTIA booking calendar and book your place: there are only 30 per session. For any question, you can call +34 958 21 59 09.
