Royal Chapel of Granada - Burial Place of the Catholic Monarchs

The Royal Chapel is part of the monumental complex that includes the Cathedral of Granada, the Lonja de Mercaderes (former trading hall) and the church of the Sagrario, in the heart of the historic centre of the city.


It is one of the finest examples of late Gothic or Elizabethan style and was built by order of the Catholic Monarchs in 1504 to be used as a burial place for their bodies.

Queen Isabella the Catholic gave high priority and provided the necessary funds for the project. She also left instructions in her will on how it had to be built.

The monarchs died before it was completed and, in the meantime, their bodies rested in the Convent of San Francisco of the Alhambra, which is now Parador, a state-owned luxury hotel.

Emperor Charles V respected the wishes of his grandparents and later, in 1521, arranged for their bodies to be transferred to the newly completed chapel.

Charles V buried almost all members of the royal family in Granada, including his parents, Philip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad, his own wife Isabella, their children and Princess Mary of Portugal, wife of Prince Philip.

Thus converting the Royal Chapel together with the Cathedral of Granada into the Royal Pantheon of the Spanish Habsburgs.

However, Philip II later transferred almost all of them to the newly built Escorial Monastery, leaving in Granada only the Catholic Monarchs, their daughter Juana, her husband Philip, and the Infante Miguel de Paz, grandson of the Catholic Monarchs.

The Funerary Monument

The funerary monument of the Catholic Monarchs is the work of the Italian Domenico Fancelli, who constructed it in Genoa with Carrara marble, while that of Juana la Loca (Joanna) and Felipe el Hermoso (Philip) is the work of Bartolomé Ordóñez.

The magnificent fence enclosing the monument, the work of Bartolomé de Jaén, also stands out.

The Royal Chapel encapsulates over five centuries of the city's history.

Inside, you can discover significant works of sculpture, painting, and goldsmithing.

The true main entrance of the Royal Chapel of Granada, dedicated to Santos Juanes, was incorporated inside the Cathedral upon its completion.

The small façade on Oficios Street is in the Plateresque style, constructed in 1527 by Juan García de Pradas.

Currently, the entrance is through the Lonja de Mercaderes, where the visits begin (in the same Oficios street, near the Madraza building).

The Museum and the Historic Treasures of the Royal Chapel

When the Catholic Monarchs founded this chaplaincy, he donated a number of personal adornment objects.

These items were used to create the small museum located in the Sacristy of the Cathedral of Granada, accessible from the Royal Chapel.

The collection contains objects of great historical and artistic value: exquisite personal items belonging to the monarchs, important works of art, royal ceremonial objects, as well as gifts and souvenirs.

The gold and silver work includes the altar cross, the chalice, the crown and the sceptre of Queen Isabella, along with the sword of King Ferdinand and various royal banners.

The Queen's chest or casket, her Renaissance-style mirror, which was later converted into a monstrance, and the precious Queen's reliquary stand out for their beauty.

There is also a collection of goldsmith's work and textiles from the period. Don't miss the impressive Queen's Missal, painted by Francisco Flores in 1496.

Isabella the Catholic left in her will instructions that numerous paintings from her personal collection were to be transferred to Granada once the Royal Chapel was finished, to decorate its walls.

In this museum, you will find an important collection of Flemish panels and masterpieces from the 15th and 16th centuries, including works by Italian and Spanish artists such as Botticelli, Berruguete and Machuca.

Among them, the famous triptych of the Passion, a work by Dierick Bouts, which belonged to Queen Isabella the Catholic and is, due to its size and quality, the most important work in Granada.

Royal Chapel Entrance Prices and Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday: 10:00 - 18:30.

Sundays and Holidays: 11:00 - 18:30.

The ticket office closes and entry is no longer allowed after 13:30 and 18:30.

On December 25 and January 1 the Royal Chapel is closed.

Royal Chapel Admission Prices

Location and How to Get to the Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel is part of the Cathedral complex, located next to the Cathedral.

It is situated in a privileged area of the city, near the Alcaicería, Madrasa, Bib-Rambla square and San Jerónimo street.

Address: Royal Chapel, Calle Oficios s/n, 18001 Granada.

Contact email: capillarealgranada@
gmail.com.

Telephone: 958 227 848.

How to Get to the Royal Chapel?

By Bus: you can reach the Royal Chapel via Granada city bus:

• routes 4, 8, 11, 21, 33, C31, C32, C34 (Gran Vía/Cathedral bus stop);
• routes C30, C35 (the stop is called Plaza Isabel Católica).

By Car: The Royal Chapel cannot be accessed by car. This area of the city is closed to private transport but taxis are allowed.

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