Santa Fe

Santa Fe is known as the ‘Hispanic cradle’. It was the town where the Reconquista culminated and where the Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed, a treaty securing the funding for the journey which led to the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, the explorer from Genoa.

Santa Fe was built on the plains of Granada that are watered by the Río Genil. The rich and fertile agricultural lands stretch out to the southern hills. The entire old town centre, with its many interesting buildings and monuments, has been officially declared a site of historic and artistic interest. The city gates, the Iglesia de la Encarnación, the Ermita de los Gallegos, the Ermita del Señor de la Salud, and the Convento de los Agustinos (in Baroque style) are all worth a visit. The fertile surrounding lands include maize fields, poplar groves and orchards, occasionally interrupted by farmhouses and tobacco-drying factories.

The Festival de Teatro de Humor is held here and the Instituto de la Casa de América hosts a number of interesting art exhibitions. The delicious Piononos, some of the most typical sweets of Granada, are on their own a sufficient excuse to visit Santa Fe.

The towns of El Jau and Pedro Ruiz also belong to the municipality.

Santa Fe was built in 1491 by King Ferdinand on the site of a military camp used to besiege the city of Granada. The town was built in the shape of a cross, with grid layout and gates erected on each side. Its cross shape was a Christian symbol to illustrate their fight against the Muslims.

Santa Fe was where the court of the Catholic Monarchs was based until they left in May 1492. In the modest royal city the capitulations between King Boabdil and Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand were signed on 21^st November 1491 confirming the surrender of the Nasrid Kingdom and detailing the treatment of the locals.

Here some of the decisive conversations with Columbus were held, and it was ‘in Sancta Fee on 17^th April, in the year one thousand and four hundred ninety-two’ that the Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed. This document later led to the discovery of America and a new era.

When the kings left the town, Francisco de Bobadilla was appointed governor. The history of Santa Fe quietened down and its inhabitants focused on agriculture. In 1806 a violent earthquake caused serious damage to the town.

The local cuisine uses a lot of excellent vegetables and fruits. Thyme and aromatic herbs are frequently used too, for example in the a Piononos, biscuit-like cakes made with cream and topped with lightly caramelized sugar, created by Ceferino Isla in honour of Pope Pius IX.