What to see in Granada Centro

by Lara / Sunday, 16 March 2025 / Published in Granada

Essential places that you must not miss in Granada 🫵

Would you like to know which sites you should see in Granada Center?

We will start by the main monuments that stand out in the center of the city and you can't miss 👇

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The Cathedral of Granada

The most emblematic monument of Granada center is “the Cathedral”. It is the largest exponent of the christianity of the city. It was designed by the Catholic Monarchs although the project was not built until the reign of Carlos V. Its construction lasted for 180 years. Due to the long period of its construction can be seen in the same a unique blend of architectural styles. Among them we can distinguish between the gothic, baroque, neoclassical, and renaissance the latter being predominant. Involved in its construction great masters such as Andnrique of Egas, Diego de Siloé, Juan de Maeda, and Alonso Cano. The Cathedral was to house, in reality, according to the project of Siloam, two twin towers with a height of eighty meters and four bodies each. Be aware, however, with a tower of fifty meters, and three bodies due to the emergence of unexpected cracks in the fourth body. It was necessary to stop the works, and proceed to its removal remains a need for the strengthening of its foundations.

Royal Chapel

After visiting the Cathedral you have to zoom in to “Royal Chapel”. Lie here the bodies of the Catholic Monarchs Isabel and Fernando. Also of their daughter Jane, her husband philippe and his grandson, Miguel. This fact shows the poignant love and the importance it had to the Catholic Kings, the city of Granada. The first part of the building of the “Royal Chapel”, gothic style, it was done under the orders of king Ferdinand (1505-1517). After her death he took charge of the construction of his grandson Charles I of Spain and V of Germany. The completion of the works and the refinement of the building was performed with a renaissance style under the reign of this. The Royal Chapel had not been completed at the time of the death of both monarchs. Their bodies were buried, for this reason, in the Parador de San Francisco until his move definitively to the “Royal Chapel” in the year 1521.

Palace of the Madrasa

Next to the Capilla Real is the “Palace of the Madrasa”. This building was an old koranic school. It was built by Yusuf I . Of the original building, only preserved in Mihrab. Everything else was rebuilt in the EIGHTEENTH century. This building was used as a City until 1851, when it was moved to its current location.

Tabernacle church

If you continue your journey down the road you will come to the “Church of the Sagrario”. This building completes the angle East of the Cathedral. It was built over the main mosque of the muslim city. The mosque was demolished in 1704. A year later, construction began on the new building. These, however, were stopped by lack of resources. Were recovered again in 1717. Finally opened its doors to the worship of the 29 of September in the year 1759.

The Alcaiceria

You should go to the craft market “the Alcaicería”, old silk market muslim where they existed more than two hundred shops of silks and other goods. Such a bazaar occupied a vast area that stretched from Plaza Bib Rambla to Plaça nova. It had ten doors of access patrolled by guards and dogs. The etymology of its name is attributed to a fact linked to the emperor Justinian. This yielded the right of the sale of silk to the arabs. He was known among the muslims as “qaysar”; a term that evolved into the presently known as Al - qaysar or Alcaiceria.

The Coal yard

Follow your quiet ride up to “The Coal yard”built by Yusuf I in the year 1336. This site was known as Alhóndiga Gidida or new. Had a dual function. It was in unison merchandise warehouse and fonda: place of lodging to merchants. Access to this monument is made by transferring a single door of a horseshoe arch. On it you can read the surah 112 of the quran which reads:

God is unique
God is eternal
Does not beget nor was he begotten
Nor has any companions

The entire building was exempt from windows to the outside, thus avoiding the theft continuum of goods. To his charge was the alondiguero who lived in the rooms located on the door. Controlling the entry and exit of goods.
The only door of the building was closed tightly to the sunset depriving the merchants out until dawn. Before dawn were warned so that they could gather their properties and animals. Only after they were open the doors. Is avoided so that one could take away something that is not yours.

The Boiler

Then moves towards “the Boiler”. Here you will be able to surround yourself with colors, smells, bazaars, shops and tea rooms that will transport you to the most lavish and traditional arab markets.

Continuing with the essential places that you must meet in the centre of Granada, record on your list ✍:

👉The Quarter of Santo Domingo it was an old mansion almohad that was part of the walls that surrounded the city.

👉The House of the Shots it is a striking building designed in the year 1540. Its stone facade and appearance of the tower contains the figures of Mercury, Hercules, Theseus, Jason and Hector as well as muskets, which have given name to the building.

👉The Public Laundry it is located in the placeta Puerta del Sol. This laundry room was used by the residents of the houses adjacent to the NINETEENTH century. It is the only one that is preserved throughout the city.

👉The Carmen of the Martyrs it was, in its origins, the place where they gave burial to christian captives. Queen Elizabeth ordered to be built, after the christian conquest, a small chapel in commemoration of the martyrs there have died.