Spain Trip #41: Granada: The Royal Chapel

Royal Chapel of Granada

The Royal Chapel was our next stop in Granada, Spain. It is famous because it's the burial place of Catholic Monarchs. In this blog you'll see some of the pictures inside and outside, and learn the history of this famous building. There are also crypts that you can walk down a flight and gaze at royal coffins. 

BUILT - Between 1506 and 1521 by Enrique Egas.

WHERE IS IT LOCATED? - The Royal Chapel is located between Granada Cathedral, the old Fish Market and the Church of Sagrario. The address is Royal Chapel, Gran Via de Colon 5, 18001 Granada.

Monument of the Kings, over the tombs

WHO IS BURIED THERE? - The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabela of Castile. It was under their rule that Spain was linked to Portugal, and Granada became part of the Kingdom of Castile. What you don't hear on the tour is that Ferdinand and Isabella ruled during the Inquisition (That you learned about in the last 2 blogs) and that Isabella had much more of a hand in ordering the gruesome movement.

WHAT ELSE IS FERDINAND AND ISABELLA FAMOUS FOR? - In addition to funding Christopher Columbus' journey to the new world (America), they were also the parents of King Henry VIII of England's first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

WHAT IS THE "BURIAL MONUMENT OF THE KINGS?" The burial monument of the Kings is the work of the Italian Domenico Fancelli, who built it in Genoa with Carrara marble, while that of Joanna the Mad and Philip the Handsome is the work of Bartholomew Ordenez. It sits over the royal tombs. 

Main Altarpiece

WHAT IS IN THE CRYPT? The royal mausoleums in Capilla Real include the marble figures of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella and those of Juana and her husband Felipe.   Under the  tombs there is a small austere-looking crypt.  Through a glass frame you can see the royal coffins.

THE MAIN ALTERPIECE - According toTravelsignposts.com, the main alterpierce is one of the 

 A dog we met outside the Chapel 

 first and biggest Plateresque altarpieces carved in Spain.  The carvings reflect three themes:  scenes of the life of Christ, St. John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist to whom Capilla Real is dedicated and iconography showing the Catholic Kings and their work. 

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