One More Thing Before We Go

16-Oct-23

Before leaving Granada, we squeezed in a quick morning of sight seeing at the Cathedral & Royal Chapel. We got to the cathedral right as it opened, so - for the very first time ever - we experienced a cathedral with no one else in it! This only lasted for only a minute or two but it was very cool to briefly have such a massive space all to ourselves!

Cathedral Entrance

Bell Tower

Central Nave

Organ

Main Altar

Sadly, they would not let us take photos in the Royal Chapel but - if you're so inclined - I highly recommend looking photos up online. This is the final resting place of King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella, who ordered a royal chapel to be built in Granada to house their illustrious remains, which wasn't finished until after their deaths in 1517. Both they and the following monarchs - their daughter Queen Juana & her husband Felipe) - along with their grandson Miguel are interred there. The coffins are in a crypt below two immaculately carved marble tombs, designed with life-size replicas of the monarchs in astonishingly fine detail - in both facial features and regal costume - laying upon plush (marble) pillow and sleeping lions. It was a sight to see! 

Door leading to Royal Chapel

As if that wasn't enough grandeur, the sacristy held a collection of Queen Isabella's personal belongings, including books, jewels, her crown, and private art collection - including Botticelli's "Prayer of the Garden"!

Exterior of Royal Chapel

After that, we drove the rest of the day to Valencia, on the Eastern Mediterranean Coast. Driving through Spain & Portugal has been a really great road trip experience (especially once we figured out the tolls!). The 'interstates' are well-marked, easy to navigate with very little traffic (if any), & the scenery has been well worth the trip! 

The best part - in addition to the scenic mountains and bucolic agricultural landscapes - have been the random roadside castles everywhere. Something we'd never experience in the U.S. 😄

Castles also create a life of luxury for the innumerable 'palace cats' we've met along the way!