Renaissance cover of the Viana Palace in Córdoba
One of the visits you should plan on your trip to Cordoba, in Andalusia, is the Viana Palace,
It is a manor house whose history dates back to the end of the fifteenth century, and I anticipate that in your visit you will be surprised by its splendor.
You can find this palace in the historic center of this very beautiful Andalusian city, to which you will surely go with the main objective of visiting the great monument of the old mosque.
Courtyard of the Viana Palace in Córdoba
Our advice is to keep the Viana Palace on your agenda, a corner that also when you get to visit it, you will also be surprised to see that it is surrounded by courtyards and gardens.
In fact they occupy half of the 6,500 square meters of surface the enclosure of this medieval house that over the centuries was transformed into a renaissance style palace.
Viana Palace History
Founded by Gómez Suárez de Figueroa in 1492, after a first stage in the hands of the family Figueroa and Córdoba, from 1704 it became the property of the family Fernández de Mesamarchs of Villaseca.
Previously there were several extensions, such as the incorporation of Stables and the Courtyards of the Gates Y the cats.
But it was at the end of the 18th century when an important extension was carried out with the construction of new courtyards, such as the chapel, the swimming pool or the hole.
The family Saavedra, Marquises of Viana, they owned the Viana Palace from 1871 to 1980.
In that year the last marquise, without offspring, before his death he sold it to the current Cajastur Foundation after a popular movement in Cordova to be bought by some public institution.
The last extension has been carried out later, with the construction in 1983 of the Courtyard of the Columns.
By then it had already been opened for public visits in October 1981, which allowed the population of Córdoba to know the historic palace and its gardens for the first time.
Patio de los Gatos in the Viana Palace in Córdoba
What to see in the visit of the Viana Palace
The visit of the Viana Palace You have two parts, on the one hand, a tour of the palatial building, and on the other hand, a free walk through its gardens and courtyards.
Given that the visit inside the Viana Palace fromCordova it's made on guided groups with a certain frequency, possibly before doing it you have time to take this walk through yards and gardens.
If not, you will also have the opportunity after the visit inside.
This happened in my case, and I announce that your visit to the Viana Palace It will be incomplete if you do not walk through the courtyards that surround the building, an essential corner to know.
Patio de los Naranjos at the Viana Palace in Córdoba
Courtyards of the Viana Palace
I tell you that in total you will find 12 patios and the garden, green spaces that are considered as artistic gardens.
On your walk, the first of the courtyards, that of Receipt, you find it right after crossing the Renaissance cover of the Viana Palace.
It is a porticoed patio in which its large palm tree stands out, as well as the bougainvillea and rose bushes that climb the columns.
Along the route you will visit various courtyards, of which some are small, such as the Archive, with its central source covered with tiles, or that of the Gardeners, with its elongated shape.
In that of the Chapel You will find orange trees and a porch with Roman mosaics.
Patio del Pozo at the Viana Palace in Córdoba
For its part, the Patio del Pozo Acquire its name through the well located in the center of it, whose groundwater allows watering the patios and supplying water to the various sources you will see.
At Patio del Pozo It also highlights the lush vegetation that covers the walls of this corner, such as ivy, bougainvillea and climbing roses.
At Courtyard of the Madama You will find a central fountain with a statue surrounded by a ring of trimmed cypresses.
You will have previously passed through the yard which extends over 1,200 square meters, and which overlooks the rear facade of the palatial building.
It is a typical garden with hedges arranged in geometric shapes, and in which you will see orange, lemon and palm trees.
The furthest enclosure during the tour is the Patio de los Naranjos, from my point of view, one of the most beautiful for its very leafy and varied vegetation.
Courtyard of the Columns at the Viana Palace in Córdoba
Previously do not stop entering the Courtyard of the Columns, large and the most recent construction.
In it you will see channels and suppliers of Granada's own style and, above all, the building with the columns behind which the bell tower of the St. Augustine's Church, already outside the palace grounds.
What to see inside the Viana Palace
Finally, in your visit inside the Viana Palace You can see both the period furniture and numerous artistic works.
In your long walk through the rooms of the palace you will be surrounded by the environment in which the aristocracy lived, seeing tiles, tapestries, paintings, furniture or porcelain that show you their aesthetic tastes.
So, for example, in the Guest room you will see one portuguese bed or a bargueño 16th century
Courtyard of the Viana Palace in Córdoba
In the palace you can also see a collection of hunting weapons that includes royal arcabuces of the 17th and 18th centuries, or embossed leather chairs In cordoba.
Next to the main entrance you find a roman mosaic of the fourth century, and in other rooms you will see Solomon columns or 16th century Flemish tapestries.
The renaissance style main staircasea is built in stone, and you will also see a Mudejar coffered ceiling 16th century
In section paintings you will find three portraits of King Alfonso XIII, one of them painted by Sorolla.
A tile collection between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries, or walls decorated with murals with the influence of Goya with allegory of the senses, or a portrait of the Queen Victoria Eugenia also painted by Sorolla, are other artistic works that you can see during your visit.
Stables of the Palace of Viana in Córdoba
Viana palace opening hours
The Visiting hours of the Viana Palace they are, throughout the year except in summer, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The palace is closed on Mondays.
In the months of July and August the schedule is from 9 to 15 hours.
Viana Palace ticket prices
The ticket prices (2019) are, the visit of the palace and courtyards, 8 euros, and only the courtyards, 5 euros.
You can visit the palace of Viana for free Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm, but keep in mind that these are guided tours with limited capacity.
Renaissance cover of the Viana Palace in Córdoba
