Page 494 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

492  SOUTHERN SP AIN

. Granada

The guitarist Andrés Segovia (1893–1987) described
Granada as a “place of dreams, where the Lord put the seed
of music in my soul”. It was first occupied by the Moors in
the 8th century, and its golden period came during the
rule of the Nasrid dynasty (see pp58–9) from 1238 to 1492,
when artisans, merchants, scholars and scientists all
contributed to the city’s international reputation as a
centre for culture. Under Christian rule, following its fall
to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 and the expulsion of the
Moors (see pp60–61), the city blossomed in Renaissance
splendour. There was a period of decline in the 19th
century, but Granada has been the subject of renewed
interest and many efforts have been made to restore it to
its past glory.
Entrance to the Moorish mihrab in the
Palacio de la Madraza
began in 1523 to plans in a
Gothic style by Enrique de Egas. It P Palacio de la Madraza
continued under the Renaissance Calle Oficios 14. Tel 958 99 63 50.
maestro, Diego de Siloé, who also Open 9am–2pm, 5–8pm Mon–Fri.
designed the façade and the Originally an Arab university (now
magnificent Capilla Mayor. Under part of Granada University), this
its dome, 16th-century windows building later became the city
depict Juan del Campo’s The hall. The façade is 18th century.
Passion. The west front was The Moorish hall has a finely
designed by Alonso Cano, who decorated mihrab (prayer niche).
was born in the city. His grave
can be seen in the cathedral. P Corral del Carbón
Calle Mariana Pineda. Tel 958 22
R Capilla Real 59 90. Open 10:30am–1:30pm,
Calle Oficios 3. Tel 958 22 92 39. Open 5–8pm Mon–Fri, 10:30am–2pm
Façade of Granada Cathedral daily. Closed Jan 1, Good Fri, Dec 25. Sat. Closed public hols.
The Royal Chapel was built for A relic of the Moorish era,
Exploring Granada the Catholic Monarchs between this galleried courtyard was a Monasterio de
la Cartuja
The old city centre around the 1506 and 1521 by Enrique de theatre in Christian times. Today PLAZA DEL PL. DE LA
cathedral is a maze of narrow Egas. A magnifi cent reja (grille) it houses a cultural centre. Estación Central TRIUNFO MERCED CUESTA DE LA ALHACABA
800m (880 yards)
one-way streets. It contains the by Maestro Bartolomé de Jaén CÓRDOBA PANADEROS
SEVILLE
PLAZA
Alcaicería – a reconstruction of encloses the high altar and the P Casa de los Tiros NARANJOS Palacio de las Pesas Iglesia del
Arco de
DE LOS
a Moorish bazaar that burned Carrara marble figures of Calle Pavaneras 19. Tel 958 22 06 29. Daralhorra Salvador
down in 1843. Granada’s two Fernando and Isabel, their Open mid-Sep–May: 10am–8:30pm Convento de PLAZA S. Mirador de
Santa Isabel
NICOLAS
main squares are the Plaza daughter Juana la Loca (the Mad) Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm Sun & pub hols; ZENET E PL. SAN SANTA ISABEL NUEVA DE SAN NI COLÁS San Nicolás
MIGUEL
Bib-Rambla, near the cathedral, and her husband Felipe el Her- Jun–mid-Sep: 9am–3:30pm Tue–Sat, CRU Z DE QUIR Ó S BAJO SE C O PILA R
FRAILES DE
and the Plaza Nueva. From the moso (the Fair). Their coffins are in 10am–5pm Sun & pub hols. G R A N V Í A D E C O LÓ N S A N J O S É San Juan S. AGUSTÍN Sacromonte
latter, Cuesta de Gomérez leads the crypt. In the sacristy there are Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec. E L V I R A QUIJA DA M ULADAR de los Reyes TOQUEROS CUESTA D E L CHAPI Z
PLAC. DE
S A N JU A N DE LOS RE YE S
up to the city’s two principal art treasures, includ ing paintings Built in Mudéjar style in the TENDILLAS PLAC. Convento
de Santa
DE LA
CUESTA
monuments: the Alhambra by Botticelli and Van der Weyden. 1500s, this palace owes its name PL. DE S. MARAÑAS PLACETA CRUZ VERDE Catalina C. DE LA VICTORIA
and the Generalife. On a hill AGUSTÍN PORRAS El Bañuelo
SAN
Darro
opposite is the Albaicín district. SAN JERÓ NI M O AGUSTÍN C. CALDERÍA Casa de CARRERA DEL DARRO PASEO DE LOS TRISTES
San Pedro
NUEVA
Churches well worth a visit CÁRCEL Chancillería los Pisa y San Pablo Jardines
Real
Altos
are the Iglesia de San Juan de Capilla PLAZA Iglesia de Alcazaba Casas Reales
Santa Ana
Dios, almost overwhelming in Cathedral Real NUEVA
Palacio
Generalife
its wealth of Baroque decor- PL. A. Palacio de de Carlos V CUESTA DEL REY C HICO
la Madraza
ation, and the Renaissance CANO CUE S TA DE GOMÉREZ Jardínes
PLAZA
Iglesia de San Jerónimo. PL. BIB- ISABEL LA Iglesia de del Portal
RAMBLA Corral del Casa de Santa Maria
CATÓLICA
R Cathedral Centro Cultural REYES CATÓLICOS Carbón los Tiros PASEO CENT RAL Alhambra
Calle Gran Vía 5. Tel 958 22 29 59. Caja Granada PLAZA Ayuntamiento PAVANE R A S LOS ALAMIL L OS
700m
Open daily. & (700 yards) DEL CARMEN PASEO DEL GENERA LIFE
CALLEJON NINA DEL ROJO
On the orders of the Catholic
Monarchs, work on the cathe dral Grille by Maestro Bartolomé de Jaén enclosing the altar of the Capilla Real
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp572–4 and pp598–602
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