Granada’s Alhambra is enough to lure any visitor to the southern city’s time-weathered streets. But there’s another sight that will surely take your breath away too, and that’s its grand cathedral.
Located in the heart of old town (not to be confused with the really old town, the hillside barrio of Albaycin), Granada’s cathedral towers above the skyline, and beckons wanderers in its shadows to look up and simply gasp. It’s not the only important building that has stood in this place either: prior to its construction in the 16th century, and before the fall of Granada from the Muslims to the Christians, the city’s main mosque stood here. Unlike the mezquita in Cordoba, however, Granada’s was demolished rather than repurposed.
A shame, to be sure, but the 181-years-in-the-making church that you find today is nonetheless impressive, boasting a primarily Spanish renaissance architectural style, with baroque elements present in the façade. The exterior — though quite the sight to behold — was intended to be even more majestic, as the original plan included the construction of two 81-meter-tall towers, which ultimately were never completed. Meanwhile, the interior is awash in light which pours in through upper stained-glass windows, and reflects and amplifies on the sparkling white inner walls.
More than just a sight for sore eyes, the cathedral is also noted as being the burial site of two of Spain’s most iconic historical figures, the Catholic Monarchs — Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand — whose tombs reside in the Capilla Real. In fact, this location was set to be the final resting place for all royals, but that plan eventually changed: now the Spanish royal mausoleum is situated in El Escorial, just a short day trip from Madrid.
The cathedral is centrally located and can be easily reached via a Granada city hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Other major sights are nearby as well, including Granada’s pride and joy, the Alhambra, as well as the Hammam Al Andalus Granada, the Muslim baths where you can rest and rejuvenate after a day of sightseeing. Check out the former palace on its own during a skip-the-line half-day tour of the Alhambra, or couple it with a trip to the baths on a Alhambra tour and Granada Hammam visit.
-Contributed by Erin Ridley
Granada Cathedral from Andalucia & Costa del Sol Things to Do