GRANADA CATHEDRAL

Spain

A mosque stood here until after the Reconquista of 1492. Plans were put in place almost immediately for the construction of a Cathedral over the top of the mosque but foundations were not laid until 1518 to plans by Enrique Egas. He was replaced in 1529 by Diego de Siloe who spent the next four decades creating one of Spain’s earliest Renaissance style Cathedrals. However, it took around 181 years for the Cathedral to actually be completed.

In 1667 the Baroque elements of the façade were added to the designs. At this time plans were put in place for twin 81 meter towers to be added to the west end of the Cathedral, but the money ran out and they never happened.

The interiors are surprisingly stark and something of the layout of a mosque can still be discerned. Kneeling effigies of Ferdinand and Isabella are one of the key sights inside the Cathedral. A direct link exists from here to the Capilla Real.

Photo - Andrew J. Müller

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2018