Carmen de los Mártires, Historic garden in Granada, Spain.
Carmen de los Mártires is an expansive hillside garden with Mediterranean plants arranged across multiple terraced levels and connected by winding pathways with decorative ponds. The elevated setting provides sweeping views across Granada, the Sierra Nevada, and the surrounding landscape.
The site began as a prison with underground storage chambers during the Nasrid period, then transformed into a Carmelite convent in 1573. Saint John of the Cross served as prior there from 1581 to 1588 and composed portions of his spiritual writings.
The garden blends Moorish and European design styles across different sections, including a Nasrid-style courtyard inspired by the Alhambra, French geometric layouts, and English romantic elements. These overlapping styles show how various artistic movements shaped the space over time.
The garden is reachable by microbus from Isabel la Católica street, and entry is free with well-maintained pathways for walking and photography. Guided tours are available to learn about the plant diversity and different garden sections throughout the site.
The site contains remnants of fourteen cone-shaped underground silos carved into bedrock that once held large numbers of prisoners. It remains one of the few places where medieval prison structures survive alongside ornamental gardens.
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