INTERESTING PLACES
THE MONSALUD PALACE
THE MONSALUD PALACE
The Monsalud Palace was built in the mid-18th century, in 1752. The building is constructed around a central courtyard, decorated with wrought iron and Talavera and Sevillian tiles. Since 1983, it has been the headquarters of the Honorable Almendralejo City Council, and it is worth noting that on March 25, 1808, it witnessed the birth of the illustrious Spanish Romantic poet José de Espronceda.
Monsalud Palace was constructed in 1752, and it was the birthplace of Romantic poet José de Espronceda. The building occupies a large corner plot and has three floors with several linteled openings.
The main entrance consists of marble jambs and lintel, and above it there is a balcony adorned with Baroque motifs, including volutes, acanthus leaves, a cherub, two eaglets, two rampant lions and an emerging cross at the top.
The building is crowned by a continuous frieze running along the upper part with metopes and triglyphs and a large projecting cornice with prominent modillions. The corners are reinforced with granite ashlars that embellish the façade. The ironwork throughout the building is also noteworthy, but undoubtedly, the most characteristic feature of this palace is its corner shields. The lower shield is surrounded by abundant Baroque relief decoration, including scrolls, vegetal motifs, winged busts and a helmet. In the intermediate area, several putti appears in different attitudes, with the ones on the ends playing lutes. The upper shield is chamfered and carried by two rampant griffins, and above it, there is a helmet and a human figure with two heads located between the modillions of the cornice.
The interior is organized around a central courtyard. On the ground floor, the semicircular arches rest on columns made of pink granite and are decorated with 18th-century Sevillian tilework. On the first floor, there is a beautiful red ceramic balustrade, supporting small granite columns with semicircular arches.
The period of greatest splendor of this palace is linked to the 5th Marquis of Monsalud, Mariano Carlos Solano Gálvez, who was a great enthusiast of archaeology and had a large collection of archaeological pieces.
After the Marquis and his mother passed away, the palace fell into a state of abandonment until a major restoration was carried out in 1983. During the restoration, the two towers located at the rear were demolished as they did not fit the palace's aesthetic. Once restored, it became the headquarters of the city council.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Afternoons and Saturdays: By appointment with our tourist office.
The main entrance consists of marble jambs and lintel, and above it there is a balcony adorned with Baroque motifs, including volutes, acanthus leaves, a cherub, two eaglets, two rampant lions and an emerging cross at the top.
The building is crowned by a continuous frieze running along the upper part with metopes and triglyphs and a large projecting cornice with prominent modillions. The corners are reinforced with granite ashlars that embellish the façade. The ironwork throughout the building is also noteworthy, but undoubtedly, the most characteristic feature of this palace is its corner shields. The lower shield is surrounded by abundant Baroque relief decoration, including scrolls, vegetal motifs, winged busts and a helmet. In the intermediate area, several putti appears in different attitudes, with the ones on the ends playing lutes. The upper shield is chamfered and carried by two rampant griffins, and above it, there is a helmet and a human figure with two heads located between the modillions of the cornice.
The interior is organized around a central courtyard. On the ground floor, the semicircular arches rest on columns made of pink granite and are decorated with 18th-century Sevillian tilework. On the first floor, there is a beautiful red ceramic balustrade, supporting small granite columns with semicircular arches.
The period of greatest splendor of this palace is linked to the 5th Marquis of Monsalud, Mariano Carlos Solano Gálvez, who was a great enthusiast of archaeology and had a large collection of archaeological pieces.
After the Marquis and his mother passed away, the palace fell into a state of abandonment until a major restoration was carried out in 1983. During the restoration, the two towers located at the rear were demolished as they did not fit the palace's aesthetic. Once restored, it became the headquarters of the city council.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Afternoons and Saturdays: By appointment with our tourist office.
Ubication: Calle Mérida, 2
Phone number: (+34) 924 666 967
Email: turismo1@almendralejo.es
Web: visita.almendralejo.es
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