Granada Centre, the Christian heritage

Granada Centre, the Christian heritage

Offering a wide range of cultural and leisure activities, the centre of the city, attracts a considerable number of visitors every year. Enjoying the mild spring weather, resting in one of the numerous lively squares, visiting monuments of great artistic value… Granada has plenty to offer.

In front of the Albaicín, the Gran Vía leads the traveller into an intricate network of narrow streets and squares dotted with beautiful buildings. The Basilica of San Juan de Dios stands next to a quarter formerly known as Barrio de la Duquesa in honour of the Gran Capitán’s wife, who ordered the construction of the Monastery of San Jerónimo to bury the remains of her courageous husband.

The Plaza de la Trinidad and the Plaza de los Lobos, which owes its name to the Capitoline legend, have a special charm. Nearby is an areain which the Society of Jesus set out to create a markedly Christian zone inside the labyrinthine Muslim city. To this purpose, on a site located near the Botanical Gardens, they ordered the construction of the Collegiate Church of the Santos Justo y Pastor, which stands next to the Plaza de la Universidad and today houses the Law faculty.

Calle San Jerónimo leads the way to the entrance of the Cathedral which adjoins the Episcopal Palace and the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel). The fact that this chapel was chosen by the Catholic Monarchs to be their final resting place, gives an idea of the important role that Granada played in the construction of the new Christian Kingdom.

After taking in the monumentality of the Cathedral, there is nothing better than venturing into the bustling Alcaicería – the perfectly reconstructed Muslim silk exchange – and mingle with crowds. Alternatively, one can choose to head towards the nearby Plaza de Bib-Rambla, an old walled esplanade which was gradually opened up to become a flower market and an important centre for social life.

The tour through the historic centre of the city continues with a visit to the Palace of La Madraza, and the Plaza de Isabel la Católica square, ending in the Corral del Carbón (Coal Yard), in the old quarter of San Matías, where one can rest in the placeta (small square) which embellishes the façade of the Palace of Abrantes.

Source: Monumental Granada. Turismo de Granada – Patronato Provincial.