The Royal Chapel of Granada and the burial place of the Catholic Monarchs

It's fair to say the building takes its cue from the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo, which had been intended as the royal burial place before the conquest of Granada in 1492. It's a building of clean lines that falls within the Flamboyant Gothic style, also known as Isabelline Gothic in honour of Isabella the Catholic.

The Royal Chapel still has its original façade, now enclosed within one of the side naves of Granada Cathedral. This is because the cathedral project was later expanded, eventually joining the two buildings together.

The Royal Chapel is dedicated to the Two Saint Johns, Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, saints of particular significance to the Catholic Monarchs. That's why they appear represented both on the rear doorway facing the Plaza de la Capilla Real and on the main grille and altarpiece inside the building.

Main nave.

Two minor chapels.

The original entrance doorway area.

The grille.

The high altar.

The tombs.

The crypt.

The high altarpiece.

The Royal Chapel has a single nave, with two minor chapels and the area of the original entrance doorway. The grille separating the central nave from the high altar and the burial area was made by master craftsman Bartolomé de Jaén.

Beyond the grille stand the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, along with those of Joanna I of Castile and Philip of Habsburg. The first tomb was made by the Italian master Domenico Fancelli. The second was the work of his pupil, Bartolomé Ordóñez. Beneath the tombs lies the crypt, where the remains of these four figures rest, together with those of Michael of Paz, the first grandson of the Catholic Monarchs, who died before reaching the age of two.

On the high altar stands the plateresque altarpiece by master Felipe Bigarny, one of the largest plateresque altarpieces carved in Spain.

The Royal Chapel of Granada holds the remains of Isabella the Catholic and Ferdinand the Catholic, the Catholic Monarchs. Alongside them lie Joanna I of Castile and Philip of Habsburg. Beneath the tombs is the crypt, where the remains of these four figures rest, together with those of Michael of Paz, the first grandson of the Catholic Monarchs, who died before reaching the age of two.

Finally, there is the sacristy. Now converted into a museum, it's divided into several exhibition areas. Here you can see part of the Catholic Monarchs' personal effects, as well as Queen Isabella's painting collection, with magnificent Flemish Gothic panels. A number of important Renaissance paintings, both Italian and Spanish, are also on display.

To visit the Royal Chapel of Granada, the general opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm. On Sundays and liturgical holidays the hours change, with visits from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm. Bear in mind that doors close at 7 pm, and that opening hours may vary depending on the celebrations held throughout the year.

There are two full closure dates worth knowing. The Royal Chapel remains closed on 25 December and 1 January.

As for tickets, the general price is €7. The price for students under 25 with valid ID is €5, and it's also €5 for visitors with disabilities. Children under 12, always accompanied, get in free.

The Catholic Monarchs are buried here. Isabella and Ferdinand conquered Granada in 1492 and, twelve years later, Isabella ordered this building to be constructed as her final resting place. Also buried here are Joanna I of Castile, Philip I the Fair, and Prince Michael of Paz.

The guided tour of the Royal Chapel of Granada lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. An official guide takes you down to the crypt to see the lead coffins, shows you the two white marble mausoleums with their carved figures, and takes you into the museum to see what has been preserved: Isabella's crown, her sceptre, Ferdinand's sword, the Flemish paintings she collected, and gold and silver objects.

Enrique Egas built the building between 1505 and 1517 in Isabelline Gothic style, the last of its kind in Spain. Domenico Fancelli, an Italian sculptor, carved the mausoleums from Carrara marble. The guide explains why Granada was chosen as the burial place, what each detail of the tombs means, and how Ferdinand decided to turn the sacristy into a museum to house Isabella's belongings.

It's one of the last Gothic buildings built on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Isabelline Gothic style.

The Royal Charter was signed in September 1504, and the building was constructed between 1505 and 1517.

Isabella would have preferred to be buried in the Alhambra, but Ferdinand pushed ahead with the Royal Chapel as the eternal resting place for them both.

It's dedicated to the Two Saint Johns, who appear represented at several points around the building: on the rear doorway, on the grille and on the altarpiece.

On the guided tour, the most striking moment is usually going down into the crypt to see the lead coffins.

There are two white marble mausoleums, and one of them was carved by the Italian sculptor Domenico Fancelli.

The sacristy was turned into a museum on Ferdinand's orders to house Isabella's belongings, and it now displays pieces such as her crown, sceptre, sword and the painting collection that has survived.