San Jose Church, Granada

The San Jose Church is found in the district of Albayzin, one of a collection of churches in the area which were formed from the ruins of mosques and Almohad palaces. The church tower is believed to have once been the minaret for the ‘mosque of the Hermits’, which stood on this spot until 1517, when the church replaced it. At the foot of the tower you can see a Moorish era water deposit. It is in buildings like San Jose church, and the nearby San Miguel and Santa Isabella places of worship, that the crossover from Muslim to Christian domination of Granada is most visible.

The church was designed by Rodrigo Hernández in the ojival manner. Once you pass through the Elvira stone portal, you can enjoy the fine, gilded decoration typical of churches built following the return of Christianity to Andalucía. The central nave is supported by four arches, bearing the arms of the Catholic Kings. At the centre of the church, a large entablature stands on Corinthian columns. In the middle of this, you can see a sculpture of Christ Crucified in the style of Pablo de Rojas. There are examples of fine religious art and sculptures dotted throughout the many corners of this church.