Curiosities about the Church of San Nicolás

One of the obligatory visits for all tourists who come to Granada is the Church of San Nicolás, due to the spectacular panoramic view that its tower offers of the city. For this reason, it is necessary to know the curiosities about the Church of San Nicolás.

Would you like to discover the most relevant facts about the Church of San Nicolás in Granada? Stay and read this post, we will show you everything you need to know below!

It has suffered several fire attempts

Throughout the summer of 1932 the Church of San Nicolás had to resist several attempts to burn it down. As a result of General Sanjurjo's coup d'état, a series of riots broke out in the city where many individuals decided to carry out anticlerical acts.

Some people went to the convent and school of Divina Infantita, the convent of the Trinitarias, the convent of Santo Tomás de Villanueva and the Church of San Nicolás with the decision to set a fire. As bad luck would have it, the latter prospered, causing the roof of the presbytery area to be badly damaged.

It should be noted that the fire destroyed benches, altars, mats and a large part of the furnishings. Its vault resisted for a few years until it too finally gave way and only the tower of the temple remained standing.

It offers the most spectacular view of Granada

Observing the views from the Tower of San Nicolás is one of the essential activities if you are in Granada. This location is the perfect place to admire the Alhambra and the city below.

Moreover, visiting the tower at sunset makes for a totally privileged view, contemplating ‘the most beautiful sunset in the world’, as Bill Clinton said during his visit to Granada in 1997.

It is worth noting that the charm of the Albaicín, where the Church of San Nicolás is located, makes the ambience and atmosphere of the viewpoint a unique experience.

It has been restored several times

Due to the different mishaps to which the Church of San Nicolás has been subjected, it has been necessary to carry out several restorations over the years.

Thus, the largest and most important restoration took place in 2011 with the aim of improving the foundations and the structure by repairing cracks. It also required an exterior cladding, the integral intervention of the vault, the improvement of pavements and the treatment of the roof.

The completion of all these renovations took place in March 2022, including the artistic decoration of the interior.

It has an important history

Finally, to know all the curiosities of the Church of San Nicolás, we could not forget to mention the most notable events in its history.

This church was one of the first temples built in Granada during the 16th century and, in addition to suffering the fires mentioned above, it was struck by lightning in the 19th century.

The temple was built by Rodrigo Hernández and the site where it is located is the first place inhabited by the Visigoths and Romans in Granada, back in the 8th century BC.

Why climb the Tower of San Nicolás in Granada?

As you have seen throughout this article describing the curiosities of the Church of San Nicolás, this site is very representative of the city of Granada, allowing us to create an indelible memory and enjoy an idyllic setting.

If you would like to climb the Tower of San Nicolás, do not hesitate to buy tickets on the official website of the Archdiocese of Granada. 

Let yourself be amazed by the beauty of the church and discover its breathtaking views of Granada!