The Madrasah or Madraza in Spanish, was the first university in Granada, founded by Yusuf I in 1349, who gave the building all the Nasrid splendorous style.

Located in the heart of Granada, on Oficios Street, is the only Nasrid building that remains in this area, a very important area at that time since here was the main Mosque of Granada and the main bazaar: the Alcaicería.

The name Madrasah (Madraza in Spanish) comes from the Arabic word ``medersa``, meaning Koranic school or college.

The Catholic Monarch, Ferdinand II, gave the building to the Cabildo´s house (town hall) in 1500, after the content of its library was burnt by Cisneros in Plaza Bib-Rambla. It was, sadly, one of the biggest public bonfires in Europe.

And since then it has been completely transformed to reach its current baroque appearance in 1722, demolishing the remains of the former Arab construction. Until 1841 the Town Hall was located here - also known as the Old Town Hall - and finally, the state recovered it in 1943.

Nowadays is part of the University of Granada and became the headquarters of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes Nuestra Señora de las Angustias (Royal Academy of Fine Arts).