Updated: October 2026
What exhibitions are there in Granada about Charles V and Isabella of Portugal? To mark the 500th anniversary of their 1526 stay, there are three: "The Household of Empress Isabella of Portugal. Imperial and court dress" at the Monastery of San Jerónimo, "The Royal Palaces of the Alhambra" at the Palace of Charles V and "Granada: Imperial Capital" at the Hospital Real. The last two can be seen from 9 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, with free or open entry.
In this post we explain what each exhibition shows, its opening hours and how to plan your visit. The San Jerónimo exhibition is included in the monastery ticket, which you can check on the Monastery of San Jerónimo page.
1526: when Granada became an imperial capital
Between June and December 1526, Charles V and Isabella of Portugal stayed in Granada on their wedding journey. During those months the city became one of the centres of power in Europe and drew ambassadors, artists and intellectuals. The court settled in the Alhambra and the empress lived in the Hieronymite monastery, where the so-called Household of the Empress was set up.
That stay left its mark on the city. One of its most visible legacies is the University of Granada, which grew out of the Estudios Generales founded by royal decree on 7 December 1526. Five centuries later, three exhibitions invite you to rediscover that moment from different angles: the clothing and daily life of the court, the Nasrid palaces turned into a royal residence, and the transformation of the whole city.
San Jerónimo: The Household of Empress Isabella of Portugal
The Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo opened the exhibition "The Household of Empress Isabella of Portugal. Imperial and court dress" on 8 October 2026. It brings together recreations of dresses, jewels and accessories from the sixteenth-century court, based on the study of portraits of the period, with special attention to works in the Museo Nacional del Prado, a collaborating institution. According to local press, it can be visited until 9 January 2027.
The exhibition is spread between the Sacristy and the Chapter House, so the monastery itself becomes part of the story. It lets you move from the portrait to the real object and understand how fabrics, colours and ornaments expressed rank, identity and power. It also brings back Friar Pedro Ramiro de Alba, prior during the empress's stay and a driving force behind the Estudios Generales, a forerunner of the University of Granada.
The exhibition is included in the general visit to the monastery and the usual opening hours apply, which you can check on the opening hours page. To get to know the place better, read about the rooms of the monastery, its history and its foundation.
Alhambra: The Royal Palaces of the Alhambra
In the Palace of Charles V, the exhibition "The Royal Palaces of the Alhambra" fills the sacristy, the crypt and the chapel. It gathers around a hundred works from 34 collections: oil paintings, sculptures, documents, manuscripts, books, engravings, armour, plans, models, coins, tiles, plasterwork and coffered ceilings. It is organised in four areas: the court in the palaces, diplomacy and politics, the monarchs in the Alhambra, and imperial memory with an immersive audiovisual.
Highlights include portraits of Charles and Isabella from the Flemish school and a drawing from the Royal Collections that documents how the court used the Alhambra's rooms five hundred years ago. It can be seen from 9 October 2026 to 17 January 2027.
Opening hours are 10:00 to 20:00 until 14 October and, from 15 October, 10:00 to 18:00. Entry to the exhibition is free. Before you go, confirm the hours on the Alhambra's official channels.
Hospital Real: Granada, Imperial Capital
In the Crucero of the Hospital Real, home of the University of Granada's rectorate, the exhibition "Granada: Imperial Capital" widens the view from the palaces to the whole city. It is organised by the University of Granada, the Regional Ministry of Culture and the Alhambra and Generalife Board, with the main support of the "la Caixa" Foundation.
The route is divided into five sections. The first, "Granada in 1526", looks at the urban and institutional changes brought by the imperial stay and the consolidation of bodies such as the Chancillería, the Hospital Real, the Cathedral and the Royal Mint. A prominent place is given to the founding of the Estudios Generales, the origin of today's University.
You can visit from 9 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, Monday to Saturday, 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 19:30. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Entry is free until capacity is reached.
The three exhibitions at a glance
| Exhibition | Where | Dates | Hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Household of Empress Isabella of Portugal | Monastery of San Jerónimo | Until 9 January 2027 | Usual monastery hours | Included in the general visit |
| The Royal Palaces of the Alhambra | Palace of Charles V (Alhambra) | 9 Oct 2026 – 17 Jan 2027 | 10:00–20:00 until 14 October; from the 15th, 10:00–18:00 | Free |
| Granada: Imperial Capital | Hospital Real | 9 Oct 2026 – 17 Jan 2027 | Mon–Sat 11:00–14:00 and 17:30–19:30; closed Sundays and holidays | Free until capacity is reached |
Dates and hours may change, so confirm them before you go.
How to plan your route
The three exhibitions complement each other: San Jerónimo tells the story of court life, the Alhambra shows how the palaces were lived in, and the Hospital Real explains what changed in the city. The most practical approach is to order them by opening hours. The Hospital Real has a split schedule and closes on Sundays and holidays, and the Alhambra shortens its hours from 15 October.
If you have a full day, you can combine the San Jerónimo exhibition with other monuments. To plan the rest of your day, see what to do in Granada after the Cathedral and Royal Chapel or the Combined Ticket. If you are torn between monasteries, our guide La Cartuja or San Jerónimo? will help you choose.
An idea of Europe that was shaped in Granada
The approach of the exhibitions recalls that Charles V projected an idea of Europe based on a universal vision of politics, aiming to keep unity and achieve peace among the peoples of his domains. It is a historical legacy that invites us to reflect on dialogue between cultures and on Granada's value as a meeting point between Europe and the world.
Tickets for the Monastery of San Jerónimo
General admission to the monastery costs €7, the reduced rate is €5 (students under 25 and people with a recognised disability) and children under 12 go in free. See all rates and buy on the Monastery of San Jerónimo ticket page.
Frequently asked questions
What exhibitions are there in Granada about Charles V and Isabella of Portugal?
Three: "The Household of Empress Isabella of Portugal" at the Monastery of San Jerónimo, "The Royal Palaces of the Alhambra" at the Palace of Charles V and "Granada: Imperial Capital" at the Hospital Real.
How long can you visit them?
The Alhambra and Hospital Real exhibitions run from 9 October 2026 to 17 January 2027. According to local press, the San Jerónimo exhibition is open until 9 January 2027.
How much does the San Jerónimo exhibition cost?
It is included in the general visit to the monastery. General admission is €7, the reduced rate is €5 and children under 12 go in free.
Are the Alhambra and Hospital Real exhibitions free?
The Alhambra exhibition has free entry and the Hospital Real exhibition has open entry until capacity is reached.
When were Charles V and Isabella of Portugal in Granada?
Between June and December 1526. That year, on 7 December, the royal decree founding the Estudios Generales was signed, the origin of the University of Granada.
Want to see the San Jerónimo exhibition? Visit the Monastery of San Jerónimo page or buy your official ticket from Tickets Granada Cristiana.
