A review of Palacio de Viana de Cordoba.
The Palacio de Viana, in Cordoba is one of Spain´s best preserved manor house. An absolute must when visiting the city and especially if you´re not there at the time of the Patio Competition. A delightful visit at any time of year but spring is obviously the most colourful time to see the twelve diverse patios in their abundant spring foliage and as if twelve patios aren´t enough there is a garden too.
From the outside the façade doesn´t look very impressive but step through the doors, and it´s a glimpse back in time. The Renaissance Viana palace is really a five-century mishmash of architectural styles. A grand, private house, added to over generations, that belonged to the Spanish noble family – Viana and was lived in by them from 1425 until 1980s. Five hundred years of furniture and decor are amalgamated like a frozen portrait of daily life in times gone by – a fascinating snapshot into the lifestyle of the privileged over the centuries.
Patio de los Naranjos
When the world-famous Cordoba Patio Competition is on at the beginning of May, entrance to the Palacio de Viana is free. Take your time to wander slowly through each unique space and it´s not hard to imagine family members strolling through the grounds to take the air and amuse themselves over the five hundred years that it was a family home.
Patio de las Rejas
The most important changes took place in the 18th century when two important local families merged through marriage. Luis Gómez de Figueroa y Córdoba, the second lord of Villaseca and María de Guzmán y Argote married in 1571. Their increase in social status and their desire to have a large entrance meant construction of the current Patio de Recibo and the main doorway through which they carriages could be driven.
Patio del Jardin
Fausto Saavedra y Collado his wife, Sofía Amelia de Lancarter y Bleck inherited the place in the early 1900s and transformed it into more or less what we see today. They also brought many of their works of art and furnishings from their palace in madrid – today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – which remain on show today.
Palacio de Viana opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1981. The Palace is closed on Mondays and the opening hours change from winter to summer.
