Seville's 2nd Best Palace

Located just a block from our rented home is the Palace of the Adelantados Mayores, better known as the Casa de Pilatos.

In 1518, the first Marquess of Tarifa, Enríquez de Ribera, departed on a Grand Tour of Europe and the Holy Land. He returned two years later, enraptured by the architectural and decorative wonders of High Renaissance Italy. He spent the rest of his life creating a new aesthetic, which was very influential. His palace, nicknamed the House of Pilate because it was thought to resemble Pontius Pilate's home in Jerusalem. became a luxurious showcase for the new style.
The successive purchases of houses and sites by the de Ribera family resulted in the gradual addition of drawing rooms, courtyards and gardens, leading it to become the biggest private residence in Seville and an ideal setting for the new ways of life and social customs of the elites of a city graced with the privilege of being the capital of the greatest overseas empire so far known.
Just entering the courtyard, surrounded by spaced arches capped with delicate Gothic balustrades, we knew we were somewhere grand. It helped that we chose the 9 AM tour and the house was practically void of tourists.
In the courtyard's corners stand three Roman statues: Minerva, a dancing muse, Ceres, and a Greek fourth statue, a 5th century BC original of the goddess Athena.




































"Designated a National Monument in 1931, this palace is a delicate combination of late-medieval Gothic and Mudejar tradition and the innovations of the Renaissance, which were introduced in Seville on account of the privileged relationship with Italy of the members of the Enríquez de Ribera family, from the 1st Marquis of Tarifa to the 3rd Duke of Alcalá." It is considered the most beautiful palace in Seville, after the Alcazar (which we will be touring Monday) and one of the most best preserved buildings from the 1500s.

As we strolled through the various, and differing rooms, we were given a glimpse of a Sevilla from another era. We were thoroughly mesmerized by each marble column and floor, long corridor, ceiling painting, large wooden door, mudéjar tile, and chapel. If this was Seville's second best palace, we are very excited for what is deemed the best.

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