Avila Palaces
They constitute one of the main architectural jewels
of Ávila. The nobility would buy a small house and as time
went by would acquire the neighbouring buildings. The 16th century
saw the beginning of the custom of arranging them according to
a clear style: the buildings are developed on a horizontal plane,
arranged on two levels. They are sober and sparsely decorated,
but they may feature family coats of arms and affixed columns.
The door deserves greater building attention and is often marked
with a large keystone; above it is the main window. The inside
is reached via a hallway, which sometimes has a bend, and leads
to the courtyard, around which the main rooms are distributed.
Palace of Ochoa Aguirre or of Superunda
The founding members of this family came from Navarra and settled
in Ávila
around 1521, accompanying the bishop Rodrigo de Marcado y Loyola.
The palace was built in 1580 by Pedro de Aguirre, Alderman of
Ávila in the final years of the 16th century. It was subsequently
inherited by different members of the family, and at the end of
the 19th century it was the direct successor of the house, José
Manso de Velasco y Chaves, Marqués de Bermudo y Conde de
Superunda, who lent it the name by which it is still known today.
It is one of the palaces which best preserves its primitive structure,
given that there has been very little renovation. The façade
is distinctly horizontal in character, finished off with two towers
which have no defensive value. The decoration is to be found in
the window spaces of the upper floor, and the eccentric position
of the door is surprising.
Palace of Don Diego Del Águila or Palace
of Sofraga
This house backs onto the wall and was responsible for defending
access to the San Vicente Gate, the whole eastern stretch of the
wall as far as the Tower of la Mula (“the Mule”) and
a large part of the northern side. It was the land belonging to
the different branches of the Águila family in the city,
and was linked to the primogeniture of Villaviciosa. The Águila
family descends from a great repopulator, Sancho de Estrada, who
was a captain of Raymond of Burgundy and originally came from
Asturias. Don Diego del Águila was the first of this surname,
and was nicknamed “el Aguililla” (“the little
Eagle”) by the Portuguese because of the eagle which appears
on his crest and because of his fearlessness and the fear which
he inspired. In 1551 the house was rented by the nuns of St. Clare,
who settled here while the convent of las Gordillas underwent
construction work. The Palace has undergone considerable transformations
throughout its history and little remains of its original form.
Palace of Don Juan De Henao
The founder of this lineage was Álvaro de Henao, alderman
of Ávila, who lived in the second half of the 15th century.
His grandson, Juan de Henao, alderman of Ávila, “Corregidor”
or King´s appointee for Ciudad Rodrigo, Úbeda y Baeza,
Inspector of los Cuantiosos de Córdoba (a religious order
dating from the 15th century) and Gentleman of the Royal House
of Castilla, founded the primogeniture of the Henao family in
1582.
Palace of Contreras or of Polentinos
This palace is, without doubt, an exception amongst the palaces
of Ávila. While the majority of them are sober and sparsely
decorated, this palace has a great profusion of decoration which
is not just limited to the family crests, and which is reminiscent
of the school of Vasco de Zarza.
Palace of Valderrábanos
This palace belonged to Don Gonzalo Dávila, whose magnificent
crest crowns the main portal. This crest was granted to him by
the Catholic Monarchs in 1478, amongst other graces such as: adding
the six roundels to the arms, a crowned lion and the Moorish flag
which he had conquered in the Seizing of Gibraltar, inverted as
a sign of victory. In this case the flag is held by a herald in
his right hand. Don Gonzalo Dávila was Maestre Sala to
the Catholic Monarchs, Corregidor in Jerez, Governor of the Office
of Grand Master of Calatrava and took part in the Seizing of Gibraltar,
snatching the enemy pendant as it fluttered in the square. This
family became related to the Valderrábanos through the
marriage of their eldest daughter with a member of this family.
The palace must have been built in the 15th century, but after
it was adapted in the 1960s for use as a hotel, precious little
remains which might give a clue to its original structure.
Episcopal Palace
This occupies the former stately home built in the 14th century
by the Navamorcuende, who, like all the members of the Dávila
family to which they belonged, built their palace backing onto
the wall. Remains of the former structure are still present: solid
stonework, arches with large keystones, crests with six roundels,
geminated windows, machicolations, battlements, etc. The palace
was bought from its old owners at the beginning of the 17th century
by the Jesuits, and adapted to form living quarters for monks,
a school and latterly a church. After the expulsion of the Jesuits
in 1767 the king ordered that the facilities be used as a Seminary;
but finally the bishopric moved from the former Episcopal Palace,
known as the Palace of the Boy King (opposite the Cathedral) to
this building (which was the property of the State after confiscation
of Jesuit belongings), and thenceforward the bishops of Ávila
used it as their residence.
Palace of The Boy King
A former bishops' palace, this was built originally as a defensive
house backing onto the section of the wall between the Cathedral
and the San Vicente Gate: its inhabitants (the Bishop) were responsible
for preventing enemies from entering this part of the city. It
is known as the “Palace of the Boy King” because,
according to the chronicles, the future Alfonso XI was brought
here for protection until a regent tutor was named by the court.
The Bishops abandoned this house in 1775, when they officially
exchanged it for the premises vacated by the Jesuits after their
expulsion. The Palace remained in State hands and became the location
of state schools. As time went by it became divided up and occupied
by different bodies. It currently houses a public library and
the main Post Office. One of its sides still has a magnificent
corner balcony.
Palace of Núñez Vela
The lineage of Nuñez Vela has its origins in the count
don Rodrigo Vela de León, whose descendent Blázquez
Vela established the primogeniture of the house with Royal Authority.
The most important work on this house was carried out mid-way
through the 16th century. The building is developed horizontally
and the façade is outstanding for its lack of symmetry,
which gives a special attractiveness to the whole: spaces have
been opened where necessary and the door has a slightly eccentric
touch. It is decorated with slim columns and family crests. The
hallway leads to the main courtyard which is very simple and elegant,
and the magnificent stairway which leads to the upper floor is
particuarly noteworthy. It was the seat of the Military Administration
Academy until this was moved to a nearby building. It was later
bought by the Town Council and became home to the Provincial High
Court, which is still its occupant today.
Palace of The Serrano
This palace is the most typical example of how the houses of the
16th century were formed by merging them with houses bought from
neighbours, although on the outside it appears to be one unit.
The façade forms an angle, and the floors are arranged
horizontally, using granite stone and masonry. The door is flanked
by pilasters and three crests. In the centre is the inscription
“Per Alvarez Serrano. Doña Leonor Zapata. 1555”.
The floor space of the building is formed of two wings forming
an angle. A rectangular hallway leads to the patio, which is unfinished.
The columns are cylindrical and the upper gallery has balustrades
on the south side, and a smooth guardrail on the east side. The
palace was inhabited by the Serrano family, descendents of Blasco
Jimeno “el Serrano”, so-called because he had land
and property in the mountains. After passing through different
hands, it became the head office, in turn, of the Savings Bank,
the Civil Government and the Falangists. After a period of abandonment,
it now belongs to the Savings Bank of Ávila.
Avila guide