Casa del Chapiz

The Casa del Chapiz in Granada is a unique ensemble of two former Morisco houses from the 16th century, located in the historic Albaicín district. The property stands at the corner of Cuesta del Chapiz and Camino del Sacromonte and has housed the School of Arabic Studies since 1932. Originally part of an Arab palace, the buildings were confiscated in 1571 because their owners had taken part in the Morisco uprising. After several changes of ownership and a period of decline, during which the houses served as simple residential and commercial buildings, they were declared a historic monument in 1919. The architect Leopoldo Torres Balbás led the comprehensive restoration between 1929 and 1932, which made it possible to preserve the historic fabric while adapting the buildings for their present use.

Here you'll experience a fascinating blend of Nasrid, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture. The larger of the two units, the Casa de Lorenzo el Chapiz, is built around a large rectangular courtyard with a long reflecting pool. Look for the white marble columns supporting the north portico, as well as the wooden galleries with turned balustrades, which reveal a Renaissance influence. The ceilings of the upper rooms are supported by intricate timber beam structures. The smaller neighboring house, the Casa de Hernán López el Ferí, follows a similar pattern with a central courtyard and a reflecting pool, but is more compact in design.

The architectural details of both houses bear witness to the typological development of Nasrid domestic architecture up to its final phase. The galleries feature decorative elements such as mocárabes, which recall the Nasrid heritage, as well as Gothic corbels with dovetail carvings and Renaissance sculptures on the column capitals. Beneath the north wing of the smaller house lies a cistern chamber that once stored water from the Aynadamar canal. The ensemble offers a deep insight into the history and urban life of Granada during the transition from the Middle Ages to the early modern era.