Seeing 6 of the Top Granada Highlights for Free
6 of Granada’s top highlights can be visited for free courtesy of the Archdiocese of Granada. They include a couple of famous sites like the Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel but also some incredible attractions such as the Cartuja Monastery and the Monastery of Saint Jerome (I knew little of these attractions before visiting. They’re fantastic). Also included are the Abbey of Sacromonte and the Church of Saint Nicolas and its tower (one of the best viewpoints in the city).
In this post I cover these 6 attractions. At the bottom of the post I tell you which to prioritize and how to book your free tickets.
I cover the attractions in the order that we saw them. But first, a little video summarizing what you can expect to see:
Cartuja Monastery
The Cartuja Monastery (Spanish “Monasterio of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción”) is one of the finest masterpieces of Spanish Baroque architecture. It is an astounding complex.
Work started on the monastery in 1506 but it took approximately 300 years to complete. The monastery is a mix of different styles (late Gothic, Renaissance and Spanish Baroque) and is decorated by some of the best Spanish artists of the times, people like Diego de Siloé, José de Mora, the García brothers, Antonio Palomino and Hurtado Izquierdo.
Highlights include the church which includes a sculpture of the Virgin of the Assumption on the main altar. The Chapel, just behind the main altar, is other-worldly with marble sculptures and a celestial dome. Off to the left of the main alter is the Sacristy. Some call it the most beautiful Sacristy in the world. Here you see exuberant baroque, every inch covered with stucco, inlays, paintings and mirrors. There’s a gorgeous dome and the floor – in black and white tiling – enhances the spaciousness of the room.
All you need to know about the Cartuja Monastery.
The usual cost? 6.50 Euros/pp. So it is absolutely worth getting free tickets especially if you are a few people. The Cartuja Monastery is just stunning.
The Abbey of Sacromonte
In Spanish: “Abadía del Sacromonte”.
Located on a hill outside the city (but not so far…the 34 bus drops you off right in front) is this huge Abbey.
The spot is famous because it was here that the bones of Saint Cecilio, the first bishop of the Roman city of Ilíberis (later to be Granada) were found in 1595. He and other religious figures had been persecuted by Roman Emperor Nero and their remains were found in Roman-era ovens within the caves built into the hill.
The hill became a pilgrimage spot and, in the early 1600´s, it was chosen as the spot to build an abbey. The large complex would become a spot of great religious and cultural importance, with a church and one of the first private colleges in Europe.
Highlights of the abbey include the church and the caves (a bit of an underground maze) which are open to the public.
Usual cost 6 Euros.
Monastery of Saint Jerome
Spanish: “Monasterio de San Jerónimo”.
It’s actually one of the most incredible buildings in Granada.
Built from 1504 – 1521, it was the home of Hieronymite monks for almost 300 years (they were expelled when Napoleonic troops took over the building, using it as barracks). In 1967 the monastery was returned to the Order of Saint Jerome. Monks still inhabit part of the complex today (the first cloister is open to the public, the second cloister is part of where the monks live).
The highlight of the monastery is the incredible church that lies on one side of the cloister. It will blow your mind away. Planned by Diego de Siloé, seemingly every inch is decorated by mouldings and art. The Altarpiece is a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance and Andalusian Mannerism. It was made between 1570 and 1605 by some of Spain’s most famous sculptors and is dedicated to Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba: the ¨Great Captain¨ who led the capture of Granada and negotiated the surrender of the Moors (he also spoke Arabic). He and his wife are buried in a crypt at the base of the steps leading to the altar.
The Incredible Monastery of Saint Jerome.
Usual cost 6 Euros.
The Royal Chapel
The Royal Chapel holds the remains of the two most consequential figures in Spanish history – Queen Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were the “Catholic Monarchs”. Under their rule the Spanish Kingdoms were united, the last Moorish stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula defeated, and Christopher Columbus was contracted to discover the New World. It was also a time of religious persecution (the Spanish Inquisition).
The Royal Chapel (Capilla Real) was built between 1505 and 1517 to serve as the final resting place of the Catholic Monarchs. The highlight of the Royal Chapel are the tombs made from alabaster. They were designed by the Italian sculptor Domenico Fancelli.
Usual cost: 5 Euros
Note: you cannot take photos or video at the Royal Chapel. It is the only one of the 6 attractions where this is enforced.
Note: all photos from the official website.
Granada Cathedral
One of the first orders of business following the reconquest of Granada by the Christian forces in 1492 was building a Cathedral. As in almost all cases involving the Spanish, the decision made was to raze the Great Mosque and to build the new Cathedral where it had stood.
Construction of the Cathedral was started in 1523 (right around the corner from the Royal Chapel). It took 181 years to build and was finally completed in 1704.
Granada Cathedral is spectacular. Walking down the main nave you see the Main Chapel in front of you which, with all its colour and light, is a sharp contrast to the white columns and ceiling of the Cathedral. Here you´ll see paintings of saints and the apostles rising along a series of arched columns. Along the top, below a colourful blue dome, are a series of stained glass windows. Conceived by Teodoro Pascual, it is considered the finest collection of stained glass in the 16th century.
Why you should visit Granada Cathedral.
Usual cost: 6 Euros
Church of Saint Nicolas church and its tower
A small church located on Granada’s most popular viewpoint (the mirador of Saint Nicolas).
I’ll be honest: the church (built in 1525) doesn’t compare to the churches I’ve listed up top. Saint Nicolas church is a bit plain. You might be curious though about the Orthodox iconostatis and the colourful Ethiopian paintings. I wish that was explained and haven’t found anything online.
The highlight for most will be the tower which has incredible views over the Alhambra, the Sierra Nevada, and the mirador below. Note: we came in the morning and had the sun shinning straight in our faces. Our photos didn’t turn out well. If you come, do it late in the afternoon.
Usual cost: 3 Euros.
How to prioritize these sites
How to prioritize these sites is personal. But if you ask me what I think, based on our experience, I would put them in the following order.
- San Jerome monastery. An incredible church inside.
- Cartuja Monastery. A very, very close 2nd. Fabulous.
- Granada Cathedral. Very impressive.
- Royal Chapel (has to be seen for it’s historical significance)
- Sacromonte Abbey. Also for its historical/religious significance.
- St. Nicolas church and tower. For an incredible vantage point.
You might think differently but the above was based on the “wow” factor for us.
How to Visit the above for Free
To get the tickets for free, go to this website. Under each attraction, go to “adquirir entradas”. Choose your dates and time. But book as early as possible, depending on the attraction and the time of year, you might only be able to book your ticket anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months ahead of your intended visit.
Note: sometimes you won’t see any availability. Sometimes the website seemingly doesn’t work. Try again the next day. Sometimes it needs a few tries (or more). But it’s worth it: if you add up the above that’s about 33 Euros per person to see these 6 attractions. If you’re several people that adds up to a lot.
Related: 2 Days in Granada
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