Casa de las Chirimías - Granada

The Casa de las Chirimías was built in the early 17th century by the government on land ceded in 1609 by the Lords of Castril.

This building was one of the first to introduce the Baroque style to Granada . It was built as a watchtower, from which the city council supervised the festivities and public events on the forecourt of the Paseo de los Tristes , known at the time as the Paseo de la Puerta de Guadix.

In the past, the Carrera del Darro, like the Plaza Nueva and the Bib-Rambla, was used as a stage for bullfights, and until a few decades ago, to coincide with the Corpus Christi festivities, flamenco and contemporary singing and dance shows etc. held.

The VIPs were divided as follows:

- On the ground floor sat the bailiffs, minstrels and lower officials.

- The first floor was reserved for the mayor and for the Caballeros Veinticuatro (the twenty-fourth lords of the city council of Granada).

- The musicians were on the second floor.

The Casa de las Chirimías has a square plan and is built with bricks. It consists of a ground floor and two upper floors, with balconies with lintels. On each side of the building are two semi-circular brick arches, which were originally open and were eventually bricked up to serve as a residence. Each floor is 24 square meters in size.

Between the parapets of the upper arches is the coat of arms of the city, flanked by pomegranates, showing that the construction of this building was promoted by the Cabildo of Granada.

At the end of the 18th century, the house of the Chirimías was sold and became a lodging house , which was later restored by the town hall.

The term "Chirimías" refers to the musical wind instrument, which has a series of holes that are opened or closed with the fingers. This instrument ends in a cone shape, and its sound is sharp, clear, penetrating and powerful. It was used in bullfights and stick parties, and was sometimes accompanied by drums and other percussion instruments. The Chirimías played Renaissance and Baroque music, mainly dance music.

Willem Vandenameele