Casa de Pilatos in Seville Spain

- January 26, 2019

Seville or Sevilla in Spanish counts many riant houses and city palaces from
important noble families, these are called Casa. One of the most
beautiful casas in the city is the Casa de Pilatos. This place also has a great
royal history.

Casa de Pilatos Seville Spain Entrance

Casa de Pilatos in Seville Spain square own picture

Some royal history

In 1478, a tribunal of the Spanish Inquisition was founded to judge Jews and
Muslims that hadn't converted to Christianity.

It was Don Pedro Enriques, the chief governor of Andalusia and his second
wife Doña Catalina de Ribera, who acquired in the late 15th. century several
sites confiscated by the Inquisition in the centre of Seville, to the north-east of
the cathedral. They planned to build a palace worthy of the union of two
great lineages (families).

Pedro Enriquez (also written with a z at the end) was a direct descendant of
Fadrique de Castilla (1334-1358). This Fadrique was a twin and a step-brother
of King Henry II of Trastámara and Peter I the Cruel, two Spanish Kings.

There was also another important royal link. The half sister of
Don Pedro Enriques, Juana Enriques married in April 1444 to
King John II of Aragon. They were the parents of a famous King:
Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Catholic.

Seal of Juana Enriquez

Source picture: Wikipedia

However Don Pedro Enriquez died, when he returned from the

Siege of Granada in 1492. His wife Doña Catalina would be in

charge of the palace until she died in 1505.

Her son was Don Fadrique Enriquez de Ribera, a figure that personifies

the old Castilian nobility's jump from the Medieval to the Renaissance.

Don Fadrique invested a part of his inheritance in subsidizing the costs

of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a journey that started in Italy.

The successor of Don Fadrique, Per Afán, asked an intervention to

architect, Benvenuto Tortello to rebuild the house.

Casa de Pilatos gardens

Casa de pilatos architecture

So from the history part, we know that the Casa de Pilatos was

constructed somewhere between 1483 and 1571 in a mix of opposing

styles and that mix is beautiful to see.

When entering the Casa you come on a large square with a lovely old

façade. There are elements in Gothic style, Corinthian frames, the coat

of arms of the Ribera lineage, and elements from the Renaissance.

Just as in almost every palace in southern Spain there are lots of tiles

and amazing beautiful gardens.

There are also various sculptures and reliefs from the Per Afán de

Ribera's antique collection and a lot of stuccowork.

As the time went by, the upper palace and other spaces further

away from the main patio tended to be reserved for private and family

use. Which is still used today.

Casa de pilatos ceiling

Casa de Pilatos room

Casa de Pilatos square

A visit

When you love royal history, gardens and architecture this Casa de

Pilatos certainly is a must see.

I visited it in June 2018 during a trip to Seville, Spain. From the
center it is easily to reach by walking.

Even my husband, who isn't fond of royal history, liked to visit
Casa de Pilatos.