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The Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Granada is housed in the Casa de Castril, a handsome sixteenth-century Renaissance building on the Carrera del Darro. This former noble residence boasts one of the finest Renaissance façades in the city and has held, since 1923, a collection spanning from Prehistory through to Granada's Islamic past, across the entire province.
Built in 1539 and attributed to the architect Sebastián de Alcántara, a disciple of Diego de Siloé, the Casa de Castril belonged to Hernando de Zafra, secretary to the Catholic Monarchs and one of the key figures in the conquest of Granada. The museum's origins date back to the late nineteenth century, with the "cabinet of antiquities" assembled by Manuel Gómez-Moreno González, making it one of the first archaeological museums to open in Spain.
The museum was closed for eight years before reopening in 2018. Admission is free for European citizens and €1.50 for citizens of other countries, making it an essential stop for anyone wanting to learn more about Granada's past.
The collection is arranged across three main rooms around an attractive Moorish-style courtyard. Most of the pieces come from the Medina Elvira site in Atarfe, though the collection also includes items from across the province of Granada.
Room I - Prehistory The first room is devoted to Prehistory, displaying chipped-stone tools used for gathering and hunting, esparto-grass sandals, a gold diadem and even a hominid molar.
Room II - Mediterranean Colonisers This room holds objects left by colonisers from the eastern Mediterranean: the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. It also displays animal sculptures made by the Iberians, polychrome ceramics and gold-woven textiles.
Room III - Romans and Arabs This room focuses on the Roman and Arab presence in Granada. Among the recovered objects, highlights include a sculpture of Venus, a bust of Ganymede, a collection of Al-Andalus capitals and the astrolabe of Ibn Zawal.
16 June to 15 September: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
16 September to 15 June: Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Sunday and public holidays: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Closed: Mondays year-round
Admission: European Union citizens: free admission Citizens of other countries: €1.50
Location: Carrera del Darro, 41-43 Buses: Lines C1 and C2 On foot: 5 minutes from Plaza Nueva along Carrera del Darro
The Casa de Castril sits in a privileged spot facing the Darro river, right in the heart of Granada's historic centre. It's easily reached from anywhere in central Granada.
Is it worth visiting? The Granada Archaeological Museum brings together works from several periods and touches on a number of civilisations. While it can be fascinating for history lovers, some visitors feel the number of pieces on display is rather limited. If you have time in Granada, it's worth forming your own opinion.
History of the building The Casa de Castril is arguably just as interesting as the collection itself. This area was settled by Granada's nobility following the conquest by the Catholic Monarchs, and the building is one of the finest examples of civil Renaissance architecture in Granada.
The museum originally also housed a Fine Arts section, but this moved to the Palace of Charles V in 1946 when it became independent. After eight years closed for renovations, it reopened in 2018 with a refreshed presentation of its collections.
Build on your knowledge of Granada's history with a free tour of the historic centre, where you'll discover how the Catholic Monarchs, Hernando de Zafra and other historical figures transformed the city after the conquest, visiting the very places where the fate of Christian Granada was forged.
Granada Free Tour
Granada Night Free Tour
Want to see it with an official guide telling you in person?
See tours in Granada