Sacromonte Abbey

History of Sacromonte Abbey

We can say that its history began on March 18, 1588, when a parchment written in three languages, a piece of cloth, an image of the Virgin Mary, and some bones—attributed to St. James the Apostle—were found in the Turpiana Tower. It was after its demolition that a tar-sealed lead box was found. It contained a parchment revealing a prophecy by Saint John about the end of the world, which Saint Cecilia had supposedly hidden so that it would not be desecrated until the time of its revelation.

n February 21, 1595, kilns containing the remains of Saint Cecilius were discovered on Mount Valparaíso, a historical event that marked a turning point in the city’s history.

Between 1595 and 1604, pilgrimages to the Abbey began, culminating in the construction of 1,200 crosses along the path to the Holy Caves. For this reason, in 1598, Don Pedro Castro, Archbishop of Granada, established four chaplaincies to care for the pilgrims.

The On April 30, 1600, the relics found in the abbey were recognized as authentic, a historic event for the Sacromonte Abbey and for Granada. Nine years later, in 1609, the work commissioned from the Jesuit friar Pedro Sánchez began.

Architecture of the Sacromonte Abbey

The Sacromonte Abbey is an architectural complex that served as a center for piety, doctrine, and institutional life, marking the triumph of Counter-Reformation culture in 17th-century Granada.

It consists of the 19th-century seminary, the Colegio Nuevo, and the earliest Baroque structures. These are the abbey or collegiate church of San Cecilio, the Church of the Assumption, and the Holy Caves. Later, it was expanded to include its Museum, Archive, and Library, as well as the picturesque and ethnographic features of its setting.

The floor plan of the Sacromonte Abbey church in Granada is in the shape of a Latin cross, with three naves and a transept. The choir in the central nave is in the late Baroque style, the work of Francisco Díaz de Rivero.

Of particular note are the Mudejar craftsmanship in the central nave, the transept, and the Main Chapel, as well as the Renaissance ceiling in the first of the ten chapels, created by Juan Vílchez. The Main Chapel houses an altarpiece that spans its entire front wall and is attributed to Blas Moreno. At the foot of the church, in the right-hand side aisle, the Virgin of Sacromonte, also known as the Virgin of the Caves, is venerated.

On an altar stands the Cristo del Consuelo, also known as the Cristo de los Gitanos, carved by José Risueño. To the left of the main altar is the rectangular sacristy, where a table for chalices—featuring marble inlays and drawers—stands out.

Interesting Facts About Sacromonte Abbey

Beneath the church of the Sacromonte Abbey in Granada lie the catacombs, where Saint Cecilius was martyred and where the lead books were found.

The museum located on the side of the courtyard features an art gallery with works by Sánchez Cotán, Pedro de Raxis, Herrera el Viejo, Lucas Jordán, Juan de Sevilla, and Goya. There is also a large collection of works by well-known artists such as Pedro Duque Cornejo, Alonso de Mena, Torcuato Ruiz del Peral, and Risueño.

Did you know that this is where one of Europe's first colleges was founded? Specifically, in 1610. The Abbey connects us to our cultural and religious past, helping us understand Granada during the Counter-Reformation.

You can now purchase your ticket to the Sacromonte Abbey online at on the official ticket sales page of the Archdiocese of Granada. Book your visit to this wonderful Christian monument today.