Monastery of San Francisco, Granada

The Monastery of San Francisco occupies a site with a remarkably complicated history. The building was established by the Catholic Monarchs after the conquest of Granada in 1492 and incorporated an earlier Muslim palace. It therefore illustrates the way Christian Granada reused and transformed the former Nasrid palace-city rather than simply abandoning it.

The Franciscan community adapted the earlier palace for religious purposes, creating a convent and church. The building later became particularly important because the Catholic Monarchs were initially buried here while the Royal Chapel was being prepared in central Granada. Their remains were subsequently transferred to the Royal Chapel.

The monastery suffered periods of decline and serious deterioration, especially during the French occupation. Archaeological and restoration work in the 19th and 20th centuries helped recover elements of its earlier history. Today, the building operates as the Parador of San Francisco, surrounded by gardens within the Alhambra complex.

For tourists, the most interesting feature is precisely this layering of history. A Nasrid palace became a Franciscan monastery, later experienced periods of decay, and eventually became a historic hotel. The surviving architectural fragments, gardens, and archaeological remains allow you to imagine the different communities that occupied this part of the Alhambra.

Even if you are not staying at the Parador, its location makes it worth noticing as you walk along the old Royal Street, once the principal axis of the Nasrid medina. Look beyond the later Christian architecture and picture the workshops, houses, gardens, and palace buildings that once filled this part of the royal city.