Royal Chancellery of Granada Palace, 16th-century courthouse and palace in Plaza Nueva, Granada, Spain
The Royal Chancellery is a 16th-century palace building located at Plaza Nueva, distinguished by its striking facade featuring Corinthian pilasters, rounded arches, and stone balustrades arranged across three levels. The structure displays Renaissance architectural details that reflect its role as a major administrative and judicial center.
The royal court was relocated from Ciudad Real to Granada in 1505 under Isabella I of Castile and became a major judicial authority for the region. The building reached its current form in 1576 and operated as a central administrative and legal institution until its closure in 1834.
The palace holds deep significance for Granada as the seat where justice was administered for centuries and where countless legal records of the region were kept. Walking through its spaces today, visitors sense the weight of decisions that shaped the city and its inhabitants.
The palace is centrally located at Plaza Nueva in Granada and is accessible to visitors, though some restrictions may apply since it functions as a courthouse today. It is wise to check access conditions beforehand, as certain areas may be limited to public viewing.
The building houses extensive archives with documents spanning from the 15th to 20th century, including genealogical records and sacramental certificates that reveal family histories of the region. These valuable collections make the site much more than just a historic facade, showing the human story of Granada.
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