Royal Hospital

t was built during the Catholic Kings´ reign as a place to assist injured persons that were fighting in the war against the Arabs. It is one of the few Civil monuments in this capital city.

The building is a mixture of different styles: Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance.

Its floor has the form of a Greek cross. The facade is built with marble from the Sierra Elvira (Elvira´ s Hill), and was carried out by García de Pradas. In it, we can see four Corinthian columns, and over them the image of the Virgin and the statues of Isabel and Fernando in a kneeling position sculpted by Alonso Mena. The coat of arms of the Catholic kings and Carlos V is also present.

Inside, where the cross divide the building in four equal parts, the naves are covered by alfarjes in the lower floor and in the upper floor by mocarabs.

There are some rooms decorated with Mudejar and Renaissance coffered ceilings. It has a rich cloister and a valuable staircase. The vault of the church is Mudejar.

Nowadays, it is the headquarters of the University of Granada for the vice- chacellorship and other university services.

Interesting resources

   Guided Tours of Granada