Royal Chapel of Granada facts for kids
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The Royal Chapel of Granada (called Capilla Real de Granada in Spanish) is a special building in Granada, Spain. It was built a long time ago, between 1505 and 1517. This chapel is famous because it is the resting place of two very important Spanish rulers: Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand. They are known as the Catholic Monarchs. Besides being a burial site, the chapel also has a collection of art and other items connected to Queen Isabella.
Contents
A Look Back: The Chapel's Story
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Granada was the last city in Spain ruled by the Moors, a group from North Africa. In 1492, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand took control of Granada. This event was a big part of their reign and marked the end of a long period called the Reconquista (Reconquest).
A few years later, in 1504, the King and Queen decided they wanted to be buried in Granada. They issued a special order to build the Royal Chapel for this purpose. The order said:
First we ordain that in the Cathedral of the city of Granada it made an honest chapel in which are, when the will of Our Lord be, our bodies buried. This chapel will be called Of the Kings under the invocation of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist.
The Royal Chapel was built in a style called Isabelline Gothic. It was dedicated to two saints, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. The main architect who led the building work was Enrique Egas. Other skilled builders like Juan Gil de Hontañón also helped.
The chapel was finished during King Ferdinand's lifetime. Later, under Emperor Charles V, it became even more beautiful. The Royal Chapel was the main burial place for the Spanish royal family for many years. This continued until King Philip II built another famous royal burial site called El Escorial.
Today, the Royal Chapel is one of the most popular places to visit in Granada. It has been carefully restored with help from different groups and people.
What Does the Chapel Look Like?
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The inside of the chapel is designed like a Latin cross. It has a main area and four smaller chapels on the sides. The ceiling has a beautiful Gothic ribbed vault, which means it has arched supports that look like ribs. There is also a special area for the choir and a crypt below.
The way light enters the main area, called the presbytery, is very bright. This bright light was meant to represent the sun and justice. A large, decorated metal screen, made by Bartolomé Ordóñez, separates the main area from the tombs.
In the center of the chapel, you will find the tombs of Isabella and Ferdinand. These were created by an artist named Domenico Fancelli. Nearby are the tombs of Joanna and Philip, made by Bartolomé Ordóñez. The tombs are placed high up, almost at the same level as the altar. This shows how important the kings were and how close they were to God.
Who is Buried Here?
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Inside the Royal Chapel, you can see the graves of:
- Isabella I of Castile, the Queen of Castile.
- Ferdinand II of Aragon, her husband and the King of Aragon.
In another tomb, you will find:
- Joanna of Castile, who was Queen of Castile and Aragon. She was known as "the Mad."
- Philip I of Castile, her husband, known as "the Handsome." His heart is buried in a church in Bruges, Belgium.
In the crypt, which is an underground room, there is also the tomb of Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal. He was the grandson of the Catholic Monarchs and died when he was a child.
The most important parts of the chapel are the main altar, the beautiful metal screen, and the crypt. In the crypt, there are five lead coffins. Each coffin has the initials of the person inside, so you can tell who is who.
The chapel is still used for Catholic church services today. Because of this, it is sometimes closed to visitors.
What Else Can You See?
You can also visit the Sacristy-Museum. This museum holds many treasures that belonged to the Catholic Monarchs. It has a great collection of paintings from different art schools, including Flemish, Italian, and Spanish. You can see works by famous artists like Juan de Flandes, Hans Memling, and even a rare painting by Sandro Botticelli called Agony in the Garden. Other artists from the 1400s like Rogier van der Weyden, Dirk Bouts, Perugino, and Bartolomé Bermejo are also featured.
The museum also displays special items made of gold and silver, such as the crown and scepter of the Catholic Monarchs. You can also see some of the Queen's old fabrics and books.
Next to the Royal Chapel is a building called the Lonja. It was built in 1518 and was used for banking and trade. It has also been restored and is open to visitors. You can admire its architecture, like its beautiful facade and ceilings, and see the paintings and furniture inside.
Music in the Chapel
For hundreds of years, the Royal Chapel had special music directors called "Maestros." Their job was to write music for church services and make sure it was performed well. They also taught the choirboys, who were called infantillos or seises, and took care of the chapel's music library.
To become a Maestro, musicians had to pass difficult tests to show their skills in composing music and their knowledge. Only truly talented artists could get the job.
One important Maestro was Antonio Cavallero, who started in 1757 and worked there until around 1822. Other notable music directors included:
- Bernardino de Figueroa (1571–1591)
- Rodrigo de Ceballos (1561–1581)
- Ambrosio Cotes (1581–1596)
- Alonso de Mena (1587-1646)
Images for kids
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Market Square in Front of the Sacristy and Doorway of the Cathedral of Granada in the 19th century.
See also
In Spanish: Capilla Real de Granada para niños
