Cartuja Monastery

It was built in Aynadamar hills. This place was highly valued for its rich orchards and beautiful gardens by the monks of the Order of the Cartujos (Order founded by Saint Bruno) in the Andalusí era. The building of this monastery started in 1516 and works would not be finished until the eighteenth century. In 1835, it was abandoned by the religious order as a result of liberal secularization and in 1842 the cloister and the monks' cells were destroyed. Its foundation was sponsored by the great captain Don Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba, in 1459.

Main Church

The church contains a magnificent altarpiece with paintings made by Fray Juan Sanchez Cotan, where one can see the transition from Mannerism to Baroque. The decoration of the nave is abundant, based on plasterworks that cover walls and vaults. A series of oil paintings are disposed throughout the nave whose main theme is the life of the Virgin Mary. They were made in the second half of the seventeenth century by Pedro Atanasio Bocanegra, a pupil of Alonso Cano. The whole work is of clear Baroque influence, maybe even anticipating Rococo style.

The main chapel is covered by an elliptical vault. The main altarpiece is a canopied altar made by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo in the eighteenth century. The Assumption of the Virgin occupies the central niche, by the sculptor Jose Mora Granada in the seventeenth century. Francisco Hurtado performed the tabernacle (sagrario) too, creating one of the most complete baroque complexes.

The interior decoration has a lot of movement, perfectly harmonizing architecture, painting and sculpture. It was designed as a lady chapel to house the tabernacle of marble and jaspers. The Virtudes gilt figures are placed in each corner.

The dome features, in fresco paintings, the triumph of Militant Church, Faith and religious life. It was executed by Antonio Palomino, and decorated by Tomas Ferrer in the eighteenth century. In the intervals between columns, images are located belonging to Saint Joseph and Saint Bruno by Jose de Mora, Maria Magdalena by Pedro Duque Cornejo, and Saint John Baptist by Jose Risueño. On each side of the tabernacle there are two Baroque altarpieces by Duque Cornejo and Sanchez Cotan.

The sacristy has a rectangular plan, by Hurtado. The parameters and vaults are covered with plasterworks to give dynamism to the entire group. The skillful use of light makes it look bigger than it really is.

The cloister and monastic halls

The façade dates from the sixteenth century with plateresque style. It has a cloister with Dorian arches and columns performed in the seventeenth Century. The refectory is made of Gothic ribs with its rounded arches. The hall is decorated with works by Juan Sanchez Cotan who, similarly, decorated the funeral chamber, called “de profundis”.

We recommend:

The cozy and quiet Hotel AC Granada, a modern construction, offers all the amenities to ensure a good rest after the obligatory tourist route through this beautiful city. In its restaurant you can enjoy both a working lunch as well as a family dinner.