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Monastery · Granada, Andaluzia
Monasterio de la Cartuja
Carthusian monastery begun in 1506, with an austere interior and a church, a Sagrario, and a sacristy in exuberant Baroque by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo and Antonio Palomino.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Monasterio de la Cartuja
The Cartuja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção began construction in 1506, with monks coming from the monastery of El Paular. Work resumed in 1516 and continued for three centuries without reaching the complete project. The Carthusians lived there until they were expelled in 1835; the large cloister and the cells were demolished in 1842.
The visit begins at the 17th-century small cloister, with Doric arches. Around it are the refectory and the chapter house, with paintings by Vicente Carducho and the Carthusian monk Juan Sánchez Cotán. In this section, the style is simple, as the life of the order required.
The church, completed in 1602, has three separate sections for the faithful, lay brothers, and monks. Behind the altar is the Sagrario, or Sancta Sanctorum, by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo, with a dome painted by Antonio Palomino.
The sacristy, built between 1727 and 1764, is the high point, with exuberant decoration that marks the final phase of Spanish Baroque. The dome was painted by Tomás Ferrer in 1735, depicting Saint Bruno and other founders of the order.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
In the morning, when light enters through the sacristy and there are fewer groups. It's outside the center, so it works better on the second or third day; check the schedule before going.
How to get there
It is located in the north of the city, next to the Cartuja university campus, about 2 km from the Cathedral. City buses that go to the Cartuja campus stop nearby; by taxi it's a few minutes from the center. There is parking in the entrance courtyard.
Tip
There is an audio guide in Spanish for mobile phones, accessed by QR code, so bring headphones. Allow time for the sacristy and the Sagrario at the end of the route, which concentrate the Baroque decoration.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Monasterio de la Cartuja
Why is the Cartuja de Granada famous?
For the sacristy and the Sagrario, considered masterpieces of Spanish Baroque, in contrast with the sobriety of the monastery's other rooms.
Is the Cartuja far from the center?
It's about 2 km from the Cathedral, in the north of the city. You can get there by city bus or taxi.
Do monks still live there?
No. The Carthusians were expelled in 1835, and the great cloister and the cells were demolished a few years later.