When visiting Santa Fe, Granada, you soon realize you’re in a place steeped in history: what happened here as it was founded changed the course of Castile—and the world. And that, to a large extent, inspires this place’s appeal. A visit can be planned as a simple day trip from Granada city, as it’s just 11 km away. If that’s your plan, here are a few key things you won’t want to miss.
Inspiring urban planning
The town of Santa Fe was built ex novo, from scratch. In 1490, the armies of the Catholic Monarchs were stationed here, besieging the city of Granada during the war against the last Muslim kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula: the Nasrid kingdom. Isabella and Ferdinand both wanted to send Boabdil, Sultan of Granada, a clear and forceful message: they weren’t here temporarily, but to take the city—a goal achieved on January 2, 1492. That’s why they decided to build a permanent camp—an entire city in record time. They laid it out in a grid, following the principles of the most modern Renaissance urban planning, without neglecting the military aspect, with walls, towers and a moat. Today, this former camp-city is Santa Fe’s historic centre.
The final push for Columbus
Another key episode that took place in Santa Fe at the time was the Capitulations: the final agreement signed between Christopher Columbus, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon to finalize the financial terms of the voyage and its potential consequences: funding for the expedition, titles granted to the Genoese navigator, and so on. They were signed on April 17, 1492, while the monarchs were here, fully absorbed in governing the newly conquered city and enforcing the Edict of Granada, which expelled Jews from Castile and Aragon—remembered, for example, in the Sephardic museum. This agreement, which gave the green light to the voyage that changed history, is commemorated here in places such as the Institute of the Americas, and in details like the Km 0 of the Discovery tile and the statue of Christopher Columbus.
Monuments in the historic centre
From a heritage perspective, when visiting Santa Fe you can’t miss Plaza de España, home to the impressive Church of the Incarnation, the Pósito, the Rector’s House and the Town Hall. In addition, its four monumental gates are well worth seeing. The Hermitage of the Galicians, also known as the Lord of Health, and the Baroque-style Augustinian convent are other great stops on a route through the most evocative side of Santa Fe.
A festival full of humour
When it comes to leisure and cultural life, it’s worth highlighting the International Humour Festival, usually held throughout the month of October. On its stages you’ll find theatre and stand-up performances designed to raise a smile—or even a good laugh—showcasing this historic Granada town’s love of entertainment.
Piononos, the symbol of its cuisine
And of course, gastronomy is another major reason to visit Santa Fe. In that regard, the city’s great symbol is the pionono, a simple sweet but full of flavour that you’ll find in local pastry shops. It’s a small cylindrical treat with a sponge cake base soaked in syrup and a blowtorched toasted cream topping. Apparently, it was invented by a local pastry chef who wanted to pay tribute to Pope Pius IX, shaping it to resemble the pontiff with a little ‘hat’, or papal zucchetto.
