Built between the 16th and 18th centuries by the Carthusian monks themselves, this 16th-century monastery has an imposing sand-coloured stone exterior, but it is the lavish baroque monastery church that people come to see, especially the sagrario (sanctuary) behind the main altar, a confection of red, black, white and grey-blue marble, columns with golden capitals, profuse sculpture and a beautiful frescoed cupola.
To the left of the main altar lies the sacristía (sacristy), the ultimate expression of Spanish late baroque, in effusive ‘wedding-cake’ stucco and brown-and-white Lanjarón marble (resembling a melange of chocolate mousse and cream). The sacristía’s cabinets, veneered and inlaid with mahogany, ebony, ivory, shell and silver in the 18th century, represent a high point of Granada’s marquetry art.
San Bruno, founder of the Carthusian order, can be seen everywhere, looking wan and contemplating a skull; a few of his bones are embedded in the gilt and mirrored altar.
