Monastery of San Francisco, Granada

Currently the Monastery of San Francisco is a parador, a special hotel but only the remains of the monastery are considered here.

Before the Reconquista, the monastery was the site of a palace with its own prayer room. Isabella, Queen of Castile had her eye on it. She promised she would build a shrine as soon as they took over the Alhambra. She kept her promise.

When the Catholic monarchs died they were buried in the monastery chapel. It was a temporary arrangement. They were destined to rest in Isabella's Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) which was under construction. Twenty years later, they moved in.

In the 18th century the old building was remodeled in a classical style, all except for the chapel where the monarchs had been buried. That part of the monastery was left intact. Today a marble plaque marks the place where Isabella and Ferdinand were temporarily interred. It sits in front of the altar of the church.

The monastery was seized by the state in 1835. It was used as a tenement, and a stable. It became a ruin. Ultimately it was saved from demolition in the 20th century.

The roof of the church has collapsed and the nave is now a strange looking courtyard. The remains of the original garden consist solely of the water channel. The channel crosses the floor, feeding a small rectangular pond. It is a weak imitation of the patio de la acequia of the Generalife.