History Colegio de San Gregorio

the heraldic crown coronet of college s founder alonso de burgos fleur-de-lis, spread through of building (image of monumental staircase).

it attached convento de san pablo, friar alonso had been prior, foundation subject assignment of capilla del crucifijo (crucifix s chapel), attached epistle s arm of dominican church, become own funeral chapel, later acquired dual function serve chapel college.

work began in 1488 in process inside outside, being main facade last in lift. royal shields in corners of large courtyard still not present granada s symbol suggests part completed before 1492. building assumed completed in 1496.

unfortunately, little documentation has been localized on construction, without knowing conclusively creators. seems incorporated famous stonemasons , carvers @ time working in castile, making set conform paradigmatic example of various trends of castilian stonework in late-15th century, juan guas , juan de talavera responsible traces , construction of friar alonso s funerary chapel, simón de colonia main altar, founder s sepulcher, later replaced commissioned felipe bigarny, without being known causes, , other works @ college, or gil de siloé , diego de la cruz commissioners chapel s altarpiece.

in 1524 building expanded addition of wing west traces of gaspar de solórzano, so-called edificio de las azoteas, jutting out rest because had 4 floors high. there remains of building s section.

since founding, college became focus of influence of early-modern age, in formed theologians, men of letters, universities s founders, bishops, kings s advisers or jurists, bartolomé de las casas, melchor cano, luis de granada or francisco de vitoria, , in took place in 1550-1551, example, famous valladolid debate, in friar bartolomé de las casas defended indigenous peoples of america s rights, against juan ginés de sepúlveda supporter of rights dominion of conquerors towards indigenous, whom considered inferior beings.

in 1577 due beneficence of spaniard juan solano, o.p., former bishop of cusco, peru, college of san gregorio served model transformation of dominican studium @ santa maria sopra minerva in rome college of st. thomas, forerunner of pontifical university of saint thomas aquinas, angelicum.

but 18th-century , arrival of enlightenment, opposition ruling bourbon dynasty exercised colleges debilitating elements of absolutism implanted, san gregorio losing influence.

it arrived 19th-century, during napoleonic french invasion used barracks, suppression of regular orders of 1820 abandoned, although in absolutist restoration of 1823 reoccupied, short period , again abandoned. finally, confiscation , expropriation gave way use prison, dependencies civil government, national institute, normal schools of teachers, etc.

in 1884 declared national monument, in following years lost of roofs , disappeared metaphysics classroom , corridor attached (from internal) facade leading chapel.