Palace of Charles V
The Palace of Charles V is the great Renaissance surprise of the Alhambra: a severe, square stone palace with a vast circular courtyard at its heart, dropped into the middle of a Nasrid hilltop. It is free to enter, houses two museums, and offers a striking change of mood from the carved stucco next door. This guide explains its strange design and how to fit it into your visit.
A Renaissance palace inside a Moorish city
After the conquest of Granada, Emperor Charles V wanted a residence worthy of his court right beside the conquered palaces. The result, begun in 1527, is one of the purest Renaissance buildings in Spain: a perfect square outside hiding a perfect circle inside. The two storey circular courtyard, ringed by columns, is unique in Europe and acoustically remarkable. The palace was never finished or roofed in its day, which adds to its austere, slightly unreal quality next to the delicacy of the Nazaries.
Two museums under one roof
The palace now holds the Alhambra Museum on the ground floor, with the finest collection of Nasrid art anywhere, including the famous Gazelle Vase, and the Museum of Fine Arts above, covering Granada painting and sculpture from the 15th century on. Both are a calm, shaded contrast to the open hill and a good refuge in summer heat. Best of all, entry to the palace and its courtyard is free, independent of your Alhambra ticket.
How to fit it into your visit
Because it is free and has no time slot, the Palace of Charles V is the perfect place to spend ten or fifteen minutes while you wait for your Nazaries slot, since it sits right beside the palace entrance. Step into the circular courtyard, look up at the ring of columns, and you will understand why architects still study it. The Alhambra Museum is worth a longer stop if you want context before or after seeing the Nasrid rooms. See the full layout in our Alhambra overview.
Practical notes
Entry to the courtyard is free and does not require an Alhambra ticket, though you do need to be inside the wider grounds to reach it. The two museums have their own opening hours and may close on certain days, so check before you rely on them. The courtyard is also a famous summer concert venue, so you may catch a stage being built for the Granada festival. For ticket planning across the hill, see our tickets page.
Informazioni pratiche
I punti forti
- ✓ Renaissance architecture
- ✓ Circular courtyard
- ✓ Fine Arts Museum
- ✓ Alhambra Museum
- ✓ Free entry
- ✓ Concert venue
Domande frequenti
- Is the Palace of Charles V free to visit?
- Yes. Entry to the palace and its circular courtyard is free and does not require an Alhambra ticket, although you must be inside the wider grounds to reach it.
- What is inside the Palace of Charles V?
- The Alhambra Museum, with the best collection of Nasrid art, on the ground floor, and the Museum of Fine Arts above. The huge two storey circular courtyard is the architectural highlight.
- Why is the palace so different from the rest of the Alhambra?
- It is a Renaissance building commissioned by Emperor Charles V in the 16th century, deliberately classical and severe, in contrast to the delicate Nasrid palaces around it.
- Does the Palace of Charles V have a timed entry?
- No. There is no time slot, so it is a good place to spend a few minutes while you wait for your Nazaries Palaces slot nearby.