Granada Cathedral

Granada Cathedral is one of the city’s key landmarks, known for its elegance and striking proportions. It’s the first Renaissance cathedral built in Spain.

To give you a bit of context, between the years 711 and 1492, the Iberian Peninsula, what is now Spain and Portugal, was under Muslim rule and formed the territory known as al-Andalus, a region where culture and economy flourished.

Granada was founded in the 11th century and gained prominence under different rulers, first the Zirid dynasty, then the Berbers, and finally the Nasrids, who established the Kingdom of Granada. Granada continued to grow in prestige, particularly with the construction of the Alhambra, a majestic fortress-palace that symbolised the grandeur of the Nasrid dynasty.

The Granada Cathedral didn’t exist until the 16th century, and in its place stood a grand mosque. That all changed with Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, the Catholic Monarchs. Concerned by the growing power of the Ottomans, they launched the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada, turning it into a Catholic territory and expelling Muslims and Jews from Spain without mercy.

A few years after the Reconquista, the construction of the cathedral began, symbolising the wealth and dominance of the newly Christian kingdom. The building was expanded and transformed over time, explaining its blend of styles. It was originally planned as a Gothic cathedral, but was later redesigned in the Renaissance style.

You can still see Gothic elements today, while the main façade, added in the 17th century, is Baroque in style. As the second-largest cathedral in Spain, Granada Cathedral stands as a striking monument to the city’s rich and complex history, and continues to impress visitors with its grandeur and beauty.