Royal Chapel of Granada

History of the Royal Chapel of Granada

Construction of the complex—consisting of the church, the sacristy, and an entrance hall—began in 1505 under Enrique Egas in the Gothic style. Juan Gil de Hontañón, Juan de Badajoz the Elder, and Lorenzo Vázquez de Segovia also contributed to its construction. The chapel was conceived as an annex to the new cathedral that was to be built in Granada following the conquest and surrender of the Nasrid Kingdom in 1492. However, today the two buildings stand as separate structures, and their styles differ: while the Royal Chapel displays features of the late Gothic period, the Granada Cathedral was built according to the new Renaissance aesthetic.

The Royal Chapel Museum

The Museum It was founded in 1913. With the growth of tourism in Spain during the second half of the 20th century, it became one of the main tourist attractions in the city of Granada.

The exterior of the chapel follows the same design as the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo. It has side chapels and a nave with a Gothic ribbed vault. The choir, located at the apse, features a paneled arch and a choir loft.

Along the path to the presbytery , a lighting effect is created that was conceived as a symbol of the sun and light in relation to justice (in the Albertian-Neoplatonic sense). The transept dedicated to the mausoleum is set apart by a monumental decorative wrought-iron gate crafted by Master Bartolomé.

In the center of the transept are the tombs of Isabella and Ferdinand, created by the Italian artist Domenico Fancelli, and those of Joanna and Philip, by the Spanish sculptor Bartolomé Ordóñez.

Mausoleum and Crypts of the Catholic Monarchs

Without a doubt, the Royal Chapel of Granada’s greatest cultural significance lies in the fact that it houses the remains of the Catholic Monarchs. This monument It was commissioned by Queen Isabella as her final resting place after her death; construction began in 1505 and was completed in 1517.

Thus, in the center of the chapel we can see a mausoleum dedicated to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and, next to them, another dedicated to their daughter Juana and her husband Philip. Inside, we can see large-scale marble sculptures of these four figures, surrounded by striking decorative elements.

It is worth noting that beneath these tombs lies a simple crypt where we can see the royal coffins, made of lead. The coffin of Miguel de la Paz, grandson of the Catholic Monarchs, is also located here.

Now you can purchase your Entrance to the Royal Chapel online on the Archdiocese of Granada's official sales website. Book your visit to this wonderful Christian monument today.