La Casa de Pilatos

Biography of a sevillian palace

Lleó Cañal, Vicente

The Sevillian Palace of the Adelantados Mayores of Andalusia, better known as the Casa de Pilatos, a combination of Italian Renaissance and Spanish Mudé-jar styles, is the most outstanding example and the prototype of an Andalusian palace. Even though it was essentially built between the 15th and 16th centuries, it encompasses five centuries of Spanish architectural history within its spaces; five centuries during which successive generations built, destroyed, and modified its structures in response to changes in social and aesthetic habits. Throughout this process, Mudejar elements were overlaid with Renaissance, Baroque, and even Romantic features, creating a palimpsest of difficult interpretation. Howe­ver, today, a meticulous restoration that has preserved traces of its various stages allows a better understanding of the building.