Palace of the Madraza

Opposite the Royal Chapel entrance stands the beautiful Palace of the Madraza, just on your right. It was founded in the 14th century during the reign of Yusuf I, the seventh Emir of Granada, and originally showcased a very different architectural style, one that was distinctly Moorish. After the Reconquista and the arrival of the Catholic Monarchs, the building was completely redesigned in the Baroque style you see today. This building once housed the first public university in al-Andalus and was considered a true temple of knowledge, drawing great philosophers, poets, and mathematicians who came here to teach. After the Christian conquest, its library was dismantled and burned in nearby Bib-Rambla Square, and the building was turned into Granada’s city hall, a role it held until 1841. This was where the municipal council would gather. The only remaining trace of the palace built by Yusuf I is the oratory inside the building, as well as its splendid white marble gateway, now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Granada. Today, the Palace of the Madraza is home to the University of Granada’s Centre for Contemporary Culture.