CASA DEL CHAPIZ

Casa del Chapiz is a fifteenth-century historic house that represents the best of Moorish architecture. It comprises two buildings that are interconnected by a plaster arch. Since 1932, the building has been used as the School of Arab Studies of the CSIC. It also features a lovely garden that offers breathtaking views of the Albaycin and Alhambra.

Casa del Chapiz is an impressive building comprising two Arab houses of the sixteenth century. The two houses are the perfect places to learn about the process of typological evolution in Nasrid domestic architecture. It belonged to the moriscos Lorenzo el Chapiz and Hernán López el Feri who are known to be the first owners of this building. 

In 1932, it was acquired by the State and started functioning as the School of Arab Studies. The rooms on the upper floor of the building are covered with wooden frames and are the perfect example of Moorish architecture. Under the northern corridor of the building is a cistern, which was used to store the water coming through the Aynadamar irrigation channel.

The cistern is still operational and is one of the finest remaining pieces of the past. The top portion of the house contains offices with beautiful interiors. You can also see wonderful pieces of Mudejar art inside the lavish rooms.

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Highlights

• Wander around the beautiful house and appreciate its grand architecture, tranquil spaces and beautiful rooms that still retain the old world charm.
• Stay in awe as you see the two houses; one that belongs to Lorenzo El Chapiz, and the second one that belongs to Hernándo Lopez El Ferí.
• Visit the main house that has several elements of the Nasrid culture, like the central pool and white marble columns
• The second one is a lot smaller and contains a small pool in the middle.
• Explore its beautiful galleries that exhibit the perfect fusion of Nasrid, Renaissance, and Gothic elements.
• Head to the library which has many books and literary works that can help you learn about Islamic culture.