All about the Royal Monastery of San Jeronimo

The Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo has been proclaimed as one of the jewels of the Spanish Renaissance, being the first monastery built in the city after the conquest of the city by the Christians.

Would you like to know all about its history and its many curiosities? Read on and be amazed by this magnificent monument.

History and construction of the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo

The monastery is built on the site of an old 14th century mosque and was the first Christian monastery in the city of Granada. It was founded before the Catholic Monarchs took it over.

Due to the heroic and military greatness of the Great Captain, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, in 1506 it was ordered to be built in Gothic style. It was not until 1526 that Jacobo Florentino and Diego de Siloé replaced the Gothic architecture with a purely Renaissance aesthetic. 

In between there was a turning point. Doña María de Manrique, his wife, decided to change the Capilla Mayor as a burial place for herself and her husband.

Courtyards, corrals, stables, an inn and cellars were added and in the 19th century a complete change took place, making use of the monastery as a barracks. It was not until 1967 that the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo was returned to the order.

The monastery consists of the church and two cloisters, in which the monks' cells and multiple chapels built by wealthy families are located on the side. The main cloister is surrounded by two storeys of side galleries with arches and a central garden. On the central arches we can see the coats of arms of the Catholic Monarchs and Fray Hernando de Talavera. Similarly, on the upper floor there are seven chapel doorways decorated with ornamentation from the Renaissance.

The church has a Latin cross floor plan and a choir. The main altar is decorated with images of saints, heroes, mythical figures, angels and historical figures. As we have already mentioned, the Gran Capitán and his wife are buried in the transept.

The main nave is built with a ribbed vault, the main chapel with ring vaults and in the aisle of the cross there is a dome. All the ceilings are decorated. The altarpiece of the Main Chapel was made between 1570 and 1605, with elements of the Mannerist Renaissance.

Curiosities

The monastery was occupied by the order of the Hieronymites, who were previously settled in Santa Fe. On the other hand, it was built with Arab stone donated by the Catholic Monarchs, which was also used for the Elvira Gate.

Artists such as Jacobo Florentino, Diego de Siloé and Lázaro Velasco were involved, as well as artists from the Granada School, Pablo de Rojas, Pedro de Raxis and Pedro de Orea.

The tower was rebuilt in the 20th century, as during the French occupation in the 18th century it was demolished to build the Puente Verde (Green Bridge) across the river Genil.

Interestingly, work on the church began in 1513 but the first stone was not laid until 5 November 1519.

Another interesting fact is that the Empress Isabella of Portugal lived in the second cloister on her wedding trip after her marriage to Charles I.

What do you think? Were you aware of all these facts?

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