Many of the most popular sites to visit in Granada, Spain, are concentrated over a small area. Since there’s a lot to see all within walking distance, the 20 minute bus ride to the Cartuja Monastery is neglected by most tourists. Combined with the fact that photos of the interior aren’t allowed, it’s hard to see what you might be missing.
The Cartuja Monastery is one of my favorite sites in Granada, the city you voted best to visit in 2017. The interior of the Cartuja Monastery is peaceful, hardly crowded, and has incredibly intricate artwork. I’m not sure if there’s been a general change to the rule or if exceptions were made for me, but I was given permission to take pictures and video inside. (Basically I asked and the guy said no problem.)
Entry to the Monastery of La Cartuja is included if you purchase a Granada Card, well worth the price for all it gets you. Additionally the Granada Card (there are two varieties, basic and plus) have 5 and 9 bus rides, respectively, included. Both the N7 and U3 lines will take you to the Cartuja Monastery.
Construction on the Cartuja Monastery began in 1506 and lasted three centuries.
One thing I noticed at many of the most popular sites of Granada, including Monastery of La Cartuja, is they generally provide complimentary informational headphones in a number of languages. They’re not something I generally use but it is a nice touch, I’d say around 60-70% of the visitors had them on.
Monastery of La Cartuja, like the rest of Granada, is one of the most photogenic places I’ve visited.
Much like the Livraria Lello in Porto, where pictures are not allowed, seeing it beforehand online can take away the surprise of discovering something completely new – a sensation we’re often robbed of because of the Internet. At the same time, catching a glimpse of a few pictures might entice you to visit a place you didn’t know too much about beforehand, something I hope I’ve done here.