Granada Charterhouse facts for kids
The Granada Charterhouse (which is Cartuja de Granada in Spanish) is a special Carthusian monastery in Granada, Spain. A Carthusian monastery is a place where monks live a quiet life of prayer. This building is one of the best examples of Spanish Baroque style. Baroque is a fancy and detailed art style from the 1600s and 1700s.
The monastery was started in 1506. Building work began ten years later and went on for about 300 years! The outside of the monastery looks quite simple. But the inside is full of amazing decorations and designs. It has many complex shapes and patterns. This makes it a top example of the Churrigueresque style. This style is known for being very decorative.
Some of the most impressive parts are the tabernacle and the famous sacristy. The tabernacle was designed by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo. The sacristy was built between 1727 and 1764. It was made by Luis de Arévalo and F. Manuel Vasquez. The Charterhouse also has many paintings. Many of these are by Fray Juan Sánchez Cotán.
Contents
History of the Monastery
The idea for this monastery came from another monastery in 1458. Building started in 1506. This was after Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, a famous leader, gave the land. The monastery you see today is not on the exact land he first gave.
In 1516, the building work started again. It continued for three centuries but was never fully finished. Sadly, some parts of the original plan are now gone. In 1842, the cloister (a covered walkway) and the monks' cells were destroyed. The main house for the prior (the head monk) was also ruined. It was completely destroyed in 1943. Monks lived here until 1835. That year, they were made to leave the monastery.
What the Monastery Looks Like
The Granada Charterhouse has several important parts. Each part shows off different styles and details.
Main Entrance
The main entrance, or cover, was built in the 1500s. It is in the plateresco style. This style is known for its detailed stone carvings. They often look like silverwork.
The Claustrillo
The Claustrillo is a small cloister. It was built in the 1600s. It has arches supported by Doric columns. These columns are simple and classic.
The Refectory
The refectory was the dining hall for the monks. It has a special ceiling with pointed arches. This is called a Gothic crossing. The room is decorated with paintings by Juan Sánchez Cotán.
San Pedro and San Pablo Room
This room is also called the Sala de profundis. It has an altarpiece. An altarpiece is a piece of art behind the altar in a church. This one was also painted by Sánchez Cotán.
Chapel of Legos
This chapel was built between 1517 and 1519. Friar Alonso de Ledesma designed it. It shows the last part of the Gothic style. The chapel is decorated with paintings by Vicente Carducho.
Chapter Hall
The chapter hall has a cross vault ceiling. This means the ceiling has arches that cross each other. This room also has paintings by Carducho.
Other Chapels
There are three other chapels in total. They are located around the cloister.
The Church
Building the main church started in the mid-1500s. It was finished in 1602. The church is divided into three parts. Each part has its own entrance.
The Sancta Sactorum or Sagrario
This is a very holy part of the church. It is also known as the tabernacle.
The Sacristy
The sacristy is a room where priests prepare for services. Building it started in 1727 and finished in 1764. It is very richly decorated. It is a great example of the final stage of Spanish Baroque style. The dome of the sacristy was painted by Tomás Ferrer in 1735. It shows St. Bruno, San Juan, and other founders of the Carthusian Order.
See also
In Spanish: Cartuja de Granada para niños
- History of early modern period domes
