Beyond the Alhambra: Visiting the Dobla De Oro Monuments in Granada, Spain

If you visit Granada, Spain, you will undoubtedly see the Alhambra UNESCO World Heritage site. If you are not familiar with the Alhambra, it’s a palace and fortress complex dating from 1238 and is one of the most famous monuments of Moorish architecture. Along with several smaller buildings, it’s part of the Dobla de Oro monuments, a collection of buildings and monuments giving an insight into the history and culture of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (also called the Emirate of Granada).  This kingdom, ruled by the Nasrid dynasty for over 200 years, was part of the Muslim empire of Al-Andalus, covering modern-day Spain and Portugal.

The remarkable Dobla de Oro monuments, still standing and in various restoration states, showcase Granada’s exceptional Nasrid heritage. They include a guesthouse for traveling merchants, one of the best-preserved hammams in Spain, a restored medieval hospital, three Moorish houses, one palace, and a former palatial complex that is even older than the Alhambra.  This post explores the key monuments that form Dobla De Oro, highlighting their unique features and significance.  

Why you should buy a Dobla De Oro ticket 

You might be asking yourself why you should include a visit to the additional Dobla de Oro monuments. Isn’t the Alhambra enough by itself?  This is a good question!  

One reason is that expanding your visit to more monuments will let you delve deeper into Granada’s history and culture during the Muslim Rule. The smaller footprints of the Dobla de Oro sites offer a more intimate and authentic glimpse into Granada’s past with various features and architectural styles.  Additionally, the Dobla de Oro ticket often provides better value than purchasing individual entries to each site.  And finally, the Dobla de Oro ticket may give you more options for visiting the Alhambra itself.

Expand your Options for Visiting the Alhambra

Let me explain. Getting into the Alhambra can be tricky.  Tickets that include entry to the must-see Nasrid palaces of the Alhambra are sold for specific times, with entries every 30 minutes. No refunds are possible if you buy a basic ticket well in advance and your plans change. But if you wait until closer to the day, you may face a situation where the tickets are sold out, or only a few are available at inconvenient times.  This is true even in the low season! 

But there are several types of tickets at various price points that allow entry to the must-see Nasrid palaces of the Alhambra, including tickets for night visits, a two-day visit (under the name “Alhambra Experiences”), an Alhambra and Rodriguez-Acosta Foundation combined tour, and the Dobla de Oro General or Night tickets.  While a basic ticket may not be available at your preferred time, an alternate ticket type at a slightly higher price might be just the ticket (pun intended) to fit into your plans! This article recommends buying the Dobla de Oro General ticket for this purpose.  

This article provides all the details on this ticket and other tickets allowing entry to the Dobla de Oro monuments below.  But it’s closer to the end of this article because we want to get into the monuments themselves. The features of each of these monuments are summarized below:  

• Corral del Carbón: combination warehouse and inn.
• Bañuelo: one of the best-preserved public Arab baths on the peninsula.
• Palacio de Dar al-Horra: official residence of Aixa, mother of Boabdil, the last emir of Granada.
• Maristán: Founded as a hospital by Sultan Muhammad V in the 14th century.
• Moorish houses: Horno de Oro, Chapiz and Zafra.
• Qubba del Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo: palatial complex pre-dating the Alhambra

Using your Ticket to Access the Dobla De Oro Monuments

With the Dobla de Oro General ticket, you can visit all the monuments in one day or spread them out over three days. Since visiting the Alhambra will take at least half a day and can even take a full day, we recommend visiting the remaining sites the day before and the day after you see the Alhambra.  

The order to see the monuments will depend on the location of your home base in the city. You might want to see them all in a row. On the other hand, if you’re heading to the Albaicín neighborhood to visit different sites like the Mirador de San Nicolas or the Grand Mosque, you could add one or more Dobla de Oro sites on your way.  To maximize your visit, use the route map below, which includes the address for each monument. 

Practical Tips for Visiting the Dobla de Oro Sites:

• Bring your passport: you’ll be required to show it with your ticket at monuments with an admission fee.  
• Stay Hydrated: Especially walking in the hot summer months.
• Check opening hours: Opening hours may vary depending on the season.
• Wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be walking on uneven surfaces.

With that Introduction, let’s dive into the monuments of the Dobla de Oro!

Corral del Carbón

Start visiting the Dobla de Oro monuments at the Corral del Carbón in central Grenada.  Specifically, stop outside the large horseshoe arch entrance gate intricately decorated with plant motifs and Arabic writing. At one time, travelers and traders passed through this arch into a combination agricultural warehouse and inn. In this caravanserai (also known as an alhondiga or funduq), they could sleep for the night and store their wares as well. 

Built in 1336, the Corral del Carbón is the only Arabian caravanserai remaining in the entire Iberian Peninsula!  Its survival resulted from its original royal ownership, which allowed for superior and resilient construction and inclusion of the architectural details of the entrance gate arch. 

After passing through the gate, arrive at the restored modest central courtyard.  Sources say travelers once watered their animals at the square stone basin in the center. 

While empty now, imagine what it was like in its heyday.  Think about the grains, spices, and other goods stored in the bays between the columns surrounding the quadrangle. Envision pack animals drinking at the water basin, traders inquiring about details of the nearby markets, and travelers resting from their journeys.  

When your visit is complete, head to the Albaicín (Albayzin) neighborhood to see the following Dobla de Oro site.  

El Bañuelo

A visit to El Bañuelo takes you back in time to the sophisticated bathing culture of the Islamic world.  It’s one of the oldest and best-preserved Arab hammams or bathhouses in Spain, dating back to the 11th or 12th century. Although this former bath building is on the small side, it’s filled with captivating features. The former reception room (now uncovered) includes a water basin.   

Inside El Bañuelo, changing rooms lead to a series of steam rooms that bathers progressed through: the cold room, the warm room, and the hot room.  The warm room is in the middle of the complex and is the largest of the three. Here, you’ll see slender columns flanking delicate arches and the remains of the original heating system.  Even though El Bañuelo has long ceased functioning as a bathhouse, it retains a sense of tranquility. The now-empty rooms are an invitation to slow down and appreciate the artistry and ingenuity of the past.

El Maristán

Just steps from El Bañuelo is the El Maristán site.  Of all of the Dobla de Oro monuments, this one is the least restored, which, unfortunately, means it is the least interesting.  However, this situation should change in the future as a complete reconstruction is ongoing.  

El Maristán was a hospital founded in the Nasrid period (14th century) to care for poor citizens. It also functioned as an asylum. The Maristán building was repurposed multiple times over the centuries. For example, it served as the Royal Mint in the 15th century and a wine warehouse in the 18th century. In the following decades, it became a housing tenement and a prison. 

Sadly, the building fell into disrepair by the 19th century, culminating in its near-complete demolition in 1843 and its final destruction in 1984. Restoration began in 2020, and today, the southern wing of Maristán has been completed.  This pavilion hosts placards with historical information and details about restoration efforts.  

Outside, work is underway to recreate the courtyard with water features.  

In addition, visitors can view restored elements of the Royal Mint, including the location of the smelting furnaces and the cooling pond that once tempered newly minted coins.

After your tour of the Maristán, walk up the street and around the corner to the next Dobla de Oro monument. 

Casa de Zafra

The Casa de Zafra is the first of four monuments that were houses or other residences. As such, they share some features typical of Nasrid dwellings. These include a courtyard with a reflecting pool and other water features, intricate plasterwork, Moorish arches, and decorative wooden ceilings. However, each home has its own charm and special features.  

The Casa de Zafra is a well-preserved upper-class Moorish house. It’s considered a superb example of the typical architecture of homes during the Nasrid period.  Be sure to look for original paint decorating the plaster walls. 

Today the Casa de Zafra houses the Albaicín Interpretation Center.  You can acquaint yourself with the Albaicín neighborhood by studying information panels and small exhibits, which may provide insights as you visit the remaining monuments.  

Casa Horno de Oro

This restored dwelling started as a one-story residence in the late 15th century.  The second story was added in the 16th century, giving this house an intriguing blend of Moorish and Castilian architectural styles. The rectangular courtyard has a central pool and arches in the Nasrid tradition, while the covered gallery with Gothic arches on the second floor came later. 

The upper floor’s entrance to the south room has the stone blocks on the door jambs and the original plaster arch.  Be sure to look up in this room to see a fantastic wooden ceiling decorated with polychrome. 

Casa del Chapiz

The Casa del Chapiz is a complex of two 16th-century houses. Like the Casa Horno de Oro, its architecture blends Moorish and Christian elements, reflecting Granada’s transition from Muslim to Christian rule. In fact, the Moorish owners of these homes converted to Christianity. 

This restored house has been home to the School of Arabic Studies since 1932. The school’s education focuses on studying al-Andalus texts, Islamic archaeology, and architecture.

One of the house’s best features is a large manicured garden with pruned hedges carefully laid out in a precision design, topiaries, trees, flowering plants, and walking paths.  This garden sits on a terrace that overlooks the neighborhood below and allows for inspiring views of the Alhambra.  

Now it’s time for a short uphill climb to the last monument in the Albaicín neighborhood.  

(Related: The Top 6 Relaxing Walks in Madrid’s Parks)

Palacio de Dar al-Horra

The Palacio de Dar al-Horra (“House of the Honest”) is more than a house—it’s a legitimate palace! It was the residence of Aixa, the mother of Boabdil, the last Nasrid king of Granada.

As you might expect, it’s much larger and more elaborate than the smaller houses described above.  The palace rooms behind the patio arcades showcase ornate architecture and decoration typical of the Nasrid period.  Details include geometric patterns, elaborate stucco work, horseshoe arches, and wooden ceilings. 

Fitting of a palace, it’s at a high point on a hill, allowing sweeping views of the surrounding area. 

Qubba del Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo

This Dobla de Oro site is last on the list because it is in the Realejo neighborhood, slightly distant from the Albaicín monuments. However, it is absolutely worth visiting, as it is a large complex and one of the few remaining examples of Nasrid civil architecture. Because of the size of the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo, allow extra time to explore compared to the previous buildings. 

It began as a palatial complex built between the 13th and 14th centuries and later became a Christian convent.  Be sure to see the richly decorated interior of the Qubba or central tower.  Predating the Alhambra, it contains architectural and decorative details that were used and refined in later Nasrid construction.  

The building also includes a museum that displays excavation sites, objects found during excavations, and information about the history of the site.

On the exterior, you can take a turn around the monument gardens. 

Route Map for Visiting the Dobla de Oro Monuments

I created this route map to make visiting the Dobla de Oro monuments easier for you. 

Click here to see the original map on AllTrails.

Essential Features and Advantages of the Dobla de Oro General Ticket

The Alhambra Dobla de Oro General ticket offers several key advantages over a “regular” ticket:

• Guaranteed Nasrid Palaces Entry: The most significant benefit is a guaranteed entry time to the highly sought-after Nasrid Palaces. Regular tickets often sell out months in advance, lowering your changes of securing your preferred spot.  

• Combined Access: The Dobla de Oro ticket not only includes access to the Alhambra (including the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, and Generalife), but also grants entry to other important historical sites in the Albaicín district. Thus, it allows you to explore a broader range of Granada’s cultural heritage.  

• Flexibility: While the ticket for the Alhambra complex (Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, and Generalife) is good for a single day, the remaining Dobla de Oro monuments can be visited that day, the day before or the day after (one entry at each site).  

• Costs: While the Dobla de Oro ticket is more expensive than a regular ticket to the Alhambra complex, the total cost is less than buying a ticket to the Alhambra Complex and paying the admission fees for each of the monuments individually (fees range from approximately € 0 to € 5).

The Fine Print for the Dobla de Oro General Ticket:

• Entry to the Alhambra complex is only for one day, the day listed on the ticket.
  • Timed entry to the Nasrid Palaces is strict. The entry time is shown on the ticket. Latecomers are denied entry and will not receive a refund.  
  • Ticket holders can visit the Alcazaba, Generalife, and Palace of Carlos V can be visited at any time during the day. 
• You must show your passport at the Alhambra and the monuments.  
• Not all monuments are open every day.  Double-check opening times before your visit to avoid disappointment. 
• There are absolutely no changes or refunds allowed.

Other Dobla de Oro Tickets

Two other ticket types provide entry to the Dobla de Oro Monuments: the Dobla de Oro Night Ticket and the Andalusian Monuments Ticket.  

The Dobla de Oro Night Ticket has similar features and rules as the General Ticket but with the following changes: 

• Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is at night,
  • October 15th – March 31st: 8:00 – 9:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays 
  • April 1st – October 14th: 10:00 – 11:30 PM from Tuesday to Saturday 
• The ticket does not include the Maristán or the Qubba del Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo.

The Andalusian Monuments Ticket has its own rules.  It allows entry to Dar al-Horra Palace, Bañuelo, Maristán, and Casa Horno de Oro on a single day. The  Corral del Carbón has no admission fee, so it can be visited at any time.  The price of this ticket is proportionally reduced compared to a ticket that includes a visit to the Alhambra complex.

Tours of the Dobla de Oro and Granada Tours

Are you interested in a guided tour in Granada? Click here for options!

Where to Stay in Granada 

For easy access to the Dobla de Oro monuments, consider staying in the Albaicín or Puerta Real (‘Royal Gate) neighborhoods. These historic districts are within walking distance of many of the included sites, allowing you to easily explore the captivating architecture and immerse yourself in the rich history of Granada.  Our stay at Eurostars Puerta Real was comfortable and convenient to all of Granada’s attractions.  You can enjoy a delectable Spanish breakfast buffet to fuel your day–just check your room rate for buffet inclusion. 

Click here or use the map below to research and book your lodging in Granada.  

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Final Thoughts on Visiting the Dobla de Oro Monuments

Visiting the Dobla de Oro monuments in Granada offers an unparalleled look into the city’s long history and stunning architecture. The Moorish influences, the blend of cultures, and the variety of buildings make them a must-see. Each monument has its own story that connects the past to the present. Discover the breadth of Granada’s heritage firsthand by visiting the Dobla de Oro monuments.