Palacio de Viana, Córdoba, Spain

Palacio de Viana was established as the family estate in 1492 by Gómez Suárez de Figuroea. He died childless and was succeeded by his nephew. The original house has experienced numerous alterations up to our days, of which we can highlight the extension in the 17th century, which gave it its current appearance to a great extent.

The palace covers a surface of more than 6,500 square metres, of which almost 4,000 of them correspond to courtyards, gardens and open spaces. Visitors, more than 70,000 every year, are especially attracted by the elegant patios and the superb 18th century garden of this palace which has lately become a museum, thanks to the collaboration of an important institution in the town.

Palaces, manors and town halls in Spain

User Reviews

Andrea Muznik (2 years ago)
Must see if in Cordoba. Price is only 5 eur for Patios. So beautiful gardens with so much variety of plants. No need to book in advance. Due to hot summers (40 degrees), it has always been essential for its inhabitants to have a cool rest for the hottest part of the day. These are par of place, but we didn't see the interior.

George Michael (2 years ago)
Just a 5 minute walk from our stay, we so much enjoyed the walled courtyards so quiet this time of year and plenty still in flower. This is a must visit if in Córdoba

Katya Butsman (2 years ago)
The patios are really amazing. enjoyed walking between the many different patios, nice gardeners take good care of the plants, info sheets include historical facts and plant agenda of each patio. a very relaxing and inspiring place, definitly a favorit in Cordoba!

Prue March (2 years ago)
Beautiful patios, we did not take the house tour as guides are only in Spanish (with English/French guidebooks available) and we were mostly interested in the gardens. You get a pamphlet with details of the history of the gardens as well as what plants you can see.

Jonathan H (2 years ago)
A worthwhile visit if you are in Cordoba. I liked the patios very much where you are free to wander. If you want to see the house then you have to join a tour group which is only in Spanish (although you get an English leaflet). Better for me would have been to walk freely around the house at my own pace......and to be allowed to take photos......I agree flash photography should be banned, but many modern cameras / phones have low light features. So 5 stars for the patios and 3 stars for the house....an average of 4.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Historic Site of the week

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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