Worth seeing in Granada: Visit to Granada Cathedral
Santa María de la Encarnación de Granada, the Cathedral of Granada, is located in the heart of Granada’s old town. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Christian West and one of the first to be built on the Iberian Peninsula.
The houses of Granada’s old town are tightly packed around the church building. There is hardly a place where you can step back far enough to catch a glimpse of the cathedral. The main façade of the cathedral can be admired from the Plaza de las Pasiegas. The bell tower is on the left-hand side of the building. Originally, the church was to be flanked by 2 gigantic 81-metre-high towers. The only tower that was built is on the left-hand side and is 57 meters high.
Construction of the cathedral
After Granada was reconquered by the Spanish kings, the city was named an archbishopric in May 1492. Queen Isabella I insisted that a prestigious church be built soon, but Ferdinand II only gave the order after her death.
In 1517, the Capilla Real burial chapel was completed first. The foundation stone for the cathedral was laid 6 years later. The entire building stands on the remains of a mosque. It measures 115.40 m in length and 65 m in width.
This was followed by a construction period in which not only the planning was changed several times, but also the master builders changed several times, and after the chancel was finally completed in 1561, it was separated from the rest of the church building, which was still under construction, and used as a cathedral. A number of changes and extensions were made, such as the construction of the baroque domed church Iglesia del Sagrario on the site of the planned second tower. It was not until 1704, 181 years after the foundation stone was laid, that construction was finally declared complete.
The result was a rectangular church building with a nave and two side aisles, adjoined by a semi-circular choir. Attached to the side are the Capilla Real, the Iglesia del Sagrario and the sacristy.
View into the cathedral of Granada
As we enter the church, we find ourselves in a very high, very bright church, which is structured by mighty columns. Due to their design, these pillars appear as if several pillars have been combined into one. They are not slender and graceful, as we are used to seeing in some churches, but rather solid and stable. I also really like the design of the ceiling. It is whitewashed and decorated with graphic ornaments.
Church windows are always something very special. In the cathedral of Granada, many windows, especially in the upper section, are made of bright, translucent glass. But we also discovered windows with pictorial designs.
The choir and side chapels are dedicated to saints and precious works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries decorate each individual chapel. In some of the side chapels, we discover donation boxes embedded in the wall, each dedicated to a saint. Here the faithful can donate for the preservation of this chapel.
The two organs from around 1745 are impressive. They stand at the end of the nave and are richly decorated. I find the arrangement of the organs fascinating. They stand parallel to each other and certainly produce an impressive sound when used simultaneously.
The main altar is located in the semicircular choir. The true splendor of the chapel is revealed here beneath the starry dome. The building is divided into several levels – two different rows of windows and two surrounding galleries with pictures. The gleaming altar with its domed roof stands in the middle of the choir. The pulpit on the side is decorated with carvings.
If you would like to take a guided tour of Granada Cathedral, you should download the audio guide onto your cell phone in advance. I found some of the narrations very interesting and, above all, informative.
Capilla Real
The Royal Chapel (Capilla Real) is located in the south-eastern section of Granada Cathedral. Here lie the mortal remains of the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella of Castile. Their daughter Joan of Castile and her son-in-law, the Habsburg Philip the Fair and Crown Prince Miguel da Paz, who died at the age of two, are also buried there.
The royal chapel was only completed after the death of the rulers. The coffins were only transferred from the Alhambrain to the Capilla Real in 1520.
Sacristy
There is a museum in the sacristy. Here you can see beautiful Renaissance works by Botticelli, Perugino, Dierick Bouts, Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling.
Iglesia del Sagrario
Another entrance leads us into the Iglesia del Sagrario. Devotions and church services are held here regularly throughout the day. It is not possible to visit then and visitors wait outside the door to be admitted.
We caught the end of a service and went into the church. Entry here is free of charge.
The church is visually very different to the cathedral. Colorful ceiling and wall designs with large paintings make it appear much darker.
The chancel is overwhelming. I was captivated by the many smaller panels with impressively designed figures depicting biblical scenes. I could have sat here for hours looking at the paintings.
Address:
Catedral de Granada Gran Vía de Colón, 5 18001 Granada
Opening Houres:
Monday – Saturday: 10 – 18.15 h Sunday: 15 – 18.15 h
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