The Palacio de la Madraza Was Once an Arab University

The Palacio de la Madraza (Palace of La Madraza) Was Once an Arab University:

Palacio de la Madraza - Granada

Just opposite from the Capilla Real is the Palacio de La Madraza (Palace of Madraza). Before the fall of Granada to the Catholic Monarchs, this place was the Granada Madrasa, an Arabic school which conducts religious as well as secular education.

Granada Madraza

Founded by King Nazarite Yusuf I in 1349, the Granada Madraza, which was called Yusufiyya or Science House, was an important institution in Moorish Granada. It is located in a privileged place in the city, next to the old main mosque and the Alcaiceria, a Moorish bazaar.  Law, medicine and mathematics were some of the subjects taught here by eminent teachers.

Generally, madrasas have a courtyard, student rooms and a large open room for education and prayer. In the 18th century, the Granada Madrasa was almost completely demolished and it was replaced with the palace.

What’s left of the original Moorish features is the mihrab.  This finely decorated prayer niche was restored in the 20th century. There are also various areas of decorated plasterwork and a wooden dome covered with stucco lacework that belong to the original structure.

Today the Palacio de la Madraza belongs to the University of Granada and exhibitions are sometimes held here.

Address:
Palacio de la Madraza
Calle Oficios, 14, Granada

Map of Granada:

Things to do in Granada

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