Monasterio de San Jerónimo, Granada facts for kids
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The Royal Monastery of St. Jerome is a historic Roman Catholic monastery in the city of Granada, Spain. It was built for a group of monks called the Hieronymites. The building is a famous example of Renaissance style, a type of art and building design that was popular in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century.
This monastery's church was the very first in the world to be dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, which is an important belief in the Catholic faith about Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Contents
History of the Monastery
The story of this monastery begins during a very important time in Spanish history called the Reconquista. This was a long period when Christian kingdoms fought to regain control of Spain.
Royal Founders
The monastery was first started by Spain's famous rulers, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were known as the Catholic Monarchs. They began the project in a camp called Santa Fe while their army was surrounding the city of Granada.
In 1504, after Granada was captured, the monks moved into the city, and the construction of the monastery we see today began. The main architect was a talented man named Diego de Siloé. Many other artists and sculptors also helped create this masterpiece.
A Place of Honor
The church inside the monastery has a special design. It's shaped like a Latin Cross, with a high platform for the choir at one end. At the other end, the main altar sits at the top of a wide staircase.
The huge, decorated screen behind the altar, called an altarpiece, is very famous. It was mostly created by the sculptor Pablo de Rojas and is considered a key work of art from the Andalusia region of Spain. The inside of the church is filled with beautiful decorations, showing the grand style of the Renaissance.
The monastery is also the final resting place for a famous military hero, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. He was known as the Gran Capitán ("Great Captain"). He and his wife are buried in a special spot right where the long part of the church crosses the shorter part.
Hard Times and Restoration
The monastery has faced many challenges over the centuries. During the early 1800s, French soldiers invaded Spain. They forced the monks to leave and caused a lot of damage to the building, leaving it almost in ruins.
The French soldiers even tore down the church's tall, thin tower. They used the stones to build a bridge over the Genil River. It wasn't until the 1980s that the tower was finally rebuilt, with the project finishing in 1989.
The Spanish government began to restore the monastery between 1916 and 1920. Today, the same order of Hieronymite monks who first lived there have returned.
On November 1, 2022, a statue of Mary in the church called "Our Lady of Solitude" received a special honor. Pope Francis approved its canonical coronation, a ceremony that recognizes the importance of the statue to the faithful.
Architecture and Design
The monastery is known for its stunning architecture, especially its two courtyards.
The Two Cloisters
A cloister is a square garden with a covered walkway around it, and this monastery has two of them. The older cloister has beautiful Renaissance decorations. It was originally designed to be the burial place for the "Great Captain."
The second cloister was once used as a temporary home for Empress Isabella of Portugal. She stayed there during her wedding trip after marrying Charles I of Spain, who was also the Holy Roman Emperor. Today, this cloister is the private living area for the monks.
A Lost and Found Gateway
The large stone gateway that stands at the entrance to the monastery grounds is original, but it has its own interesting story. In the 19th century, it disappeared from the monastery. It was found many years later in a field and was finally returned to its rightful place in the 1960s.
See also
In Spanish: Real Monasterio de San Jerónimo (Granada) para niños
- San Juan de Dios Hospital (Granada)
- History of early modern period domes
