Cartuja Monastery in Granada - The Best Spanish Baroque

The Cartuja Monastery, also known as the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is one of the finest masterpieces of Spanish Baroque architecture.

A Glimpse into History of the Monastery of Cartuja in Granada

Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdova, the Great Captain, donated the land for the construction of the Royal Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de la Cartuja in Granada to serve as his family mausoleum.

The area chosen was Aynadamar or Fuente de las Lágrimas, near Alfacar.

The founding monks, who came from the Monastery of Santa María del Paular, decided to change the location and chose the current one, which annoyed the Gran Capitán who then abandoned the project.

The works began in 1506, although it took three centuries before it was finally finished. Hence, the variety of styles present in this wonderful monumental work.

Here you will enjoy true masterpieces of the Late Gothic, Renaissance and Spanish Baroque. The best artists of the time decorated its interor, including Diego de Siloé, José de Mora, the García brothers, Antonio Palomino and Hurtado Izquierdo, among others.

What to See in the Cartuja Monastery of Granada

The monastery is accessed through a Plateresque doorway, typical of 16th-century Spanish Renaissance architecture.

From the large 17th-century cobblestone courtyard, where parking is available, you can see the facade of the church and the staircase that leads into the monumental complex.

During the visit, two very different parts are distinguished by their style and decoration, each determined by the specific use given to these rooms.

In the part where the rooms for the daily tasks of the Carthusian monks are located, the style and decoration are simple and austere, despite containing important works of art.

This part of the monastery was constructed in the first half of the 16th century.

In the church, however, imagination runs wild. The exuberance of the church, the Sanctum Sanctorum and the Sacristy contrasts greatly with the rest of the monastery. This spectacular work of art was built in the second half of the 17th century.

The Cloister

The visit begins in the cloister: a haven of peace and tranquility adorned with orange trees, a fountain, and aromatic plants.

Of the large Cloister, which disappeared a long time ago, only the entrance door remains in one corner of this small cloister.

The sole function of this cloister was to connect the various common rooms of the monks.

The Refectory

We enter the Refectory, the friars' dining room, where you will find one of the most important series of monastic paintings in Spain, created by Fray Juan Sánchez Cotán. Most of them are tenebrist paintings.

The ones depicting the Holy Supper and the Martyrs of England stand out, in which, depending on where you look at the painting, the horses seem to be moving in that direction.

Next to the Refectory is the small room of De Profundis, also known as the room of St. Peter and St. Paul, characterized by its classicist style. Here, the friars practiced penance.

There is an altar painted on the wall and a painting of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In this painting, Sánchez Cotán once again plays with optical illusion, as he did previously with the cross painted in the Refectory.

The Lego Room

The lego room is covered by a Gothic-style pointed vault, which is the oldest part of the monumental complex.

Here we find important works by Vicente Carducho and José de Mora.

Chapter Room

The Chapter Room served as the meeting place for the monks of San Jerónimo, the only space where they spoke, as they adhered to a vow of silence.

The seats in this room are crafted from austere bricks. Here, they convened regularly to address community matters, encompassing both everyday problems and theological issues.

In this enclosure, we can contemplate the transition from the Baroque to the Renaissance styles.

The magnificent wooden door and the works of José Risueño and the García brothers, the greatest exponents of Granada and Andalusian Baroque, stand out prominently.

We return to the cloister and head to the opposite wing, where a series of small side chapels dedicated to individual worship awaits, dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

The Church

We enter the church through the door reserved for laymen, which is simpler than that of the monks. Here, we uncover the enormous treasures that this majestic temple holds.

Carthusian churches diverge from the typical cross-shaped design. The order departed from established models, opting instead for a single nave divided into three parts, adapted to the construction styles of the time.

We first encounter the area for the faithful, a small anteroom enclosed by a fence that restricts access.

The second section comprises the choir of lay brothers, distinguished from the friars' choir by two exquisite altars and an impressive transparent inlaid door.

The Fathers' Choir is brighter and more spacious, serving as the daily gathering place for monks for chanting and mass.

The focal point is the Main Altar, housing the Tabernacle. A glazed triumphal arch heralds the presence of something transcendent.

The Sanctuary

Go around the altar to reach the Sancta Sanctuary, adorned with its impressive Lanjarón marble baldachin in the center.

This is a true Baroque masterpiece by the great Hurtado Izquierdo, who assembled here the finest stonemasons, painters, and sculptors of the time.

It conveys the seclusion of a holy place, making the visitor feel small in the face of the exuberance of the decorative elements.

The marvelous celestial dome painted by Antonio Palomino stands as one of his great works.

The Sacristy

As you leave the Tabernacle, you may feel that you've already seen the best of the monumental complex. However, upon entering the the Sacristy, you'll understand why it has been dubbed "the most beautiful sacristy in the world".

It is the final stop of our visit, seemingly reserved to leave us speechless as we conclude our journey.

The sacristy holds special significance in Carthusian Order, as it is where the friars prepare for the most important moment of the day: the community mass. It serves as the prelude to the sacred.

This is a pinnacle of Spanish Baroque style, believed to be the work of Hurtado Izquierdo.

The precious inlaid chests of drawers used to store the vestments and ornaments for mass were carved by Jose Manuel Vázquez, who dedicated 34 years to their completion.

On the white walls, the stucco harmonizes perfectly with the reddish color of the marble of the High Altar, presided over by San Bruno.

Look closely at the veins in the marble and the figures depicted within: the fish, the dog, the Spanish lady.

The diamond-shaped black and white tile floor, coupled with the absence of furniture in the center, enhances the feeling of spaciousness and allows the other decorative elements to stand out prominently.

Entrance Prices and Opening Hours

Entrance Prices of the Cartuja Monastery

Combined Ticket

You can aslo purchase combined ticket (Cathedral, Royal Chapel, Cartuja Monastery, San Jerónimo Monastery, Sacromonte Abbey, San Nicolas Church + Tower):

Opening Hours of the Monastery of the Cartuja Monastery

The ticket office closes 30 minutes prior to the closing time.

Location, Telephone and How to Get to the Monastery

The Cartuja Monastery is situated in the area known as Cartuja, very close to the university campus, approximately two kilometers from the center.

One of the advantages is the free parking available right at the door.

If you prefer to take the urban bus, line 8 will take you there.

The U1 or U3 (university) bus routes, also stop at the Monastery, but these only work during the academic year.

The bus stop at the Cartuja Monastery is called 'Ciencia de la Educación' or 'Paseo de Cartuja'.

Address: La Cartuja Monastery, Paseo de Cartuja, Granada. Telephone: 958 161 932.

Shop for Gifts and Books on the Monastery of Cartuja

In the entrance courtyard, adjacent to the monastery car park, you'll find a charming craft and gift shop called "Artesanía Contreras".

Here you can purchase books, postcards and other souvenirs from your visit to the Cartuja Monastery.

The star gift is the scented rosaries made with rose or jasmine petals, handmade by the Carthusian monks.

They also sell fresh water, calendars, handicrafts and other souvenirs from Granada.

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