Capilla Real de Granada
Gothic pantheon of the Catholic Monarchs, with tombs, a crypt and a sacristy-museum holding Queen Isabella’s art collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Royal Chapel came into being at the wish of the Catholic Monarchs, who in 1504 decided to build a burial place of their own in Granada, the city conquered in 1492. The works, directed by Enrique Egas, began in 1505 and were completed in 1517. It became a Gothic church in the Isabelline style, dedicated to the Saints John (los santos Juanes), to which a sacristy and an access loggia (lonja) were added. Although it was conceived as an annex to the future cathedral, today the two buildings are perceived as independent works: the chapel with late Gothic forms, and the cathedral with a Renaissance aesthetic.
In 1521 the Emperor Charles I ordered the permanent transfer of his grandparents’ remains to this church. In the crossing rise the marble tombs of Isabella and Ferdinand, the work of the Italian Domenico Fancelli, and those of their daughter Joanna and her husband Philip, by the Spanish sculptor Bartolomé Ordóñez. Below, a simple crypt holds the lead coffins, among them that of Miguel de la Paz, grandson of the monarchs. A large wrought-iron grille separates the funerary space from the rest of the church, and the high altarpiece and other altarpieces complete the decoration.
The sacristy houses a museum, created in 1913, which brings together the art and devotional collection of Queen Isabella: goldsmith’s work, textiles, Flemish panels, Italian and Spanish paintings, the Queen’s Missal and a royal chest. The visit also includes the loggia, and the chapel has its own archive and library. It remains a place of worship and one of the most visited monuments in Granada.
Highlights
- Marble tombs of Isabella I, Ferdinand II, Joanna I and Philip the Handsome
- Crypt with the lead coffins of the monarchs
- Large wrought-iron grille and high altarpiece
- Sacristy-museum with Flemish panels and goldsmith’s work of Queen Isabella
- Queen’s Missal and royal chest
- Free audio guide in eleven languages
Permanent exhibitions
- Mausoleos reales y cripta – The marble tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, of Joanna I and of Philip the Handsome in the crossing, and the crypt with the lead coffins.
- Sacristía-museo – Collection of art and devotion of Queen Isabella: goldsmith’s work, textiles, Flemish panels, Italian and Spanish paintings and the Queen’s Missal.
- Founded
- 1506
- Operated by
- Cabildo de la Capilla Real
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Students aged 13 to 25, large families (ticket office only) and people with disabilities, with accreditation. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 12 · Children up to and including 12 years old, accompanied by adults, enter free (not valid for schools or groups). |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5With accreditation. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Aged 13 to 25, with a student card. |
| Groups | –School and adult groups must write in advance to visitas@capillarealgranada.com and present the reply at the ticket office; one member of the group pays for all tickets. For every 10 students, one teacher enters free. |
Free admission: Tuesdays 14:00–18:00 for people born in or registered in Granada and its province (with national ID card or certificate of registration; not for guided tours). Wednesday afternoons with free tickets reserved on the Archdiocese’s website. Schools in Granada and its province enter free from November to February during school hours, if the pupils are aged 25 or under.
There is a combined ticket with other monuments of the Archdiocese of Granada (Cathedral, Monastery of the Cartuja, Monastery of San Jerónimo, Abbey of the Sacromonte and Church of San Nicolás); their prices are listed on the official ticket sales website. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Due to its historic and monumental character, the visit may present accessibility difficulties; information can be requested before visiting. Access for people with reduced mobility depends on the Cathedral’s opening hours (adapted access through the Cathedral). The audio guides are adapted for people with hearing difficulties.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The audio guide has a children’s version, available in Spanish and English. Children must be accompanied by adults and may not run in the church.
Getting there & parking
The entrance is at Calle Oficios, in the historic centre, next to the Cathedral.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Entry with suitcases or travel backpacks is not permitted.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (ES, EN, FR, IT, DE, PT, NL, RU, ZH, KO, JA) |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography and video recording are not permitted inside the chapel. |
| Good to know | The audio guide is free: it can be downloaded as an app (“Audio guía Capilla Real de Granada”) or accessed by a QR code inside. It lasts about 45 minutes, and headphones are advisable. Guides accompanying more than 7 people must use radio guides, which can be hired in advance. Silence must be kept, dress must be decorous and heads must be uncovered on entering. Eating and drinking are not permitted, and only guide dogs are admitted. |
