PALACIO DE LA MADRAZA GRANADA

Palacio de la Madraza was a madrasa founded in the mid-fourteenth century by the Nasrid monarch Yusuf I. It was dedicated to the study of languages, mathematics, and medicine. The building was later converted into the Town hall of Granada and is currently owned by the University of Granada. It does not retain its original character since it has been the subject of various interventions.

Palacio de la Madraza was a Muslim University dedicated to the study of various interesting subjects. It functioned under the Treaty of Granada as an Arab university until the XVI Century. The building was permanently closed after it suffered an assault by Cisneros.

The library contents were burned, and the building suffered massive deterioration. In the early XX Century, attempts were made to restore the building, and in 1976 it became part of Granada University. Originally, the building featured a small pool in the centre with gardens, a white marble entrance, and a façade decorated with poetry and Arab inscriptions.

But after it was converted into a town hall, it was enlarged with another house, and its original layout was changed. It has a small prayer room and the room of the knights that has been used for city council meetings for years.

Must Read: Granada Attractions

Highlights

• Palacio de la Madraza was one of its kind educational institution in Granada built to train and educate new scholars to serve as state bureaucrats. It is now a part of Granada University.
• It is a remarkable expression of Islamic art and features beautiful decorations and embellishments favored by the Nasrid sultans. 
• The main attraction of the building is the Islamic prayer room which is so beautiful that the Christians decided to preserve it. The prayer room has breathtaking carved walls, Moorish decorations, and beautiful paintings.
• Over the years, the building has undergone major modifications, and it now includes a Baroque style façade featuring the shield of the city surrounded by Angels.