Sacromonte Abbey

Martyr Saints

Tradition has it that about 1594 two Grenadian Moors were looking for treasures in this cave area and one of them found some writings on plates of lead saying that San Tesifón, San Hiscio and San Cecilio, first bishop of Granada has been martyred there.

Since then, Sacromonte became a pilgrimage center where processions were held and memorial crosses were placed, some of them still remain. It was a way of Christianizing the land and appealing to miracles to convert Moorish people and integrate them in society.

The Abbey is located on Valparaíso mountain, in one of the ideal places for enjoying one of the most beautiful Alhambra views The complex is composed by the Holy Caves, site of the discoveries of relics, the Abbey, the Old College of St Dionisio Areopagita and the New School, built in the nineteenth century.

The Church

It is dedicated to the Asunción, it has latin cross plan, three aisles, transept, Major Chapel and high. The central section has a barrel vault and the side sections have groin vaults, although these ones are shorter.

The altarpiece of the Chapel occupies the entire front wall. It was done by Blas Moreno in 1743. It consists of just one body with three sections or streets separated by pilasters. The central motif is a medallion with a relief of the Asunción. At the foot of this relief, we can find a baldachin that, in turn, houses the side-chapel, flanked by reliquary-sculptures of Sacromonte Holy Martyrs. It ends with a relief of the Trinity and the Apostles.

The entire temple is decorated with oil paintings of religious subjects and oval mirrors.

A beautiful table made of inlaid marble can be found in the sacristy.

The Abbey’s Courtyard

The lower gallery is composed of round arches with moldings and corbels at the keystone, supported by Tuscan columns.  In the spaces between the arches, roundels appear with Castro’s crest and Salomon stars. The motif of this decoration is a tribute to St Cecilio, Jewish convert to Christianity who was a disciple of St. Peter. The upper gallery has rectangular apertures.

The pavement of the courtyard is made of boulder, a fountain is located in the center.    

The Museum

The museum exhibits important goldsmithing works and liturgical vestments.

The gallery features art by Sanchez Cotan, Pedro de Raxis Herrera el Viejo, Lucas Jordan, John de Sevilla, Goya and a copy of the painting entitled "Dead Christ supported by an Angel" by Alonso Cano. The sculptures are also of great importance, works of sculptors such as Duque Cornejo, Alonso de Mena, Ruiz del Peral or Risueño stand out.

In the library section the “Libros Plumbeos” are exhibited. They are 25 books in Arabic language where St Cecilio’s life is chronicled. He was executed in the times of Nerón emperor, around the third century. In the eighteenth century, they were studied at Rome with the result that they were not considered as genuine, their destruction was ordered though eventually never carried out.

The Holy Caves

In the Chapel of the Stone, there is a large stone with the power to grant husband to any woman who kisses it in less than a year .

Tradition says that in the Chapel of St. James, this Apostle held the first Mass in Spain and it was in this place where the Virgin first appeared.

The altarpiece, from the late seventeenth century, is presided by an image of the Inmaculada, the work of Duque Cornejo. At their sides, the sculptures of Santa Lucía y Santa Teresa can be found

The cave where the San Cecilio’s ashes appeared is protected by a fence. Inside, there is a bust of the patron saint of Granada and the crucifix which, according to tradition, San Juan de Dios took by the streets of Granada when begging.