Palacio de Lebrija, Seville

Historic Building and Museum in Seville

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Michel wal

The Lebrija Palace, or Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija, is one of Seville's most fascinating palaces in Seville—a 16th-century mansion museum located in the heart of the city. It is celebrated not only for its elegant Andalusian architecture but also for its extraordinary private collection of art and antiquities, assembled by the Countess of Lebrija in the early 20th century. Often called “the most artistic house in Seville,” the palace brings together treasures from across centuries and civilizations, reflecting the Countess's deep passion for archaeology, travel, and beauty.

The palace stands as a living museum, where every floor, wall, and courtyard tells a story. Its ground floor showcases an astonishing collection of Roman mosaics, classical sculptures, and archaeological finds from the nearby Roman city of Italica, while the upper floor reveals rooms decorated in Arabic, Baroque, and Spanish styles. The mix of cultures and periods gives visitors a sense of Seville's layered history—from its Roman foundations to its Moorish refinement and its Renaissance grandeur.

What to See in the Lebrija Palace

One of the palace's most striking features is the sheer artistry of its azulejos, the painted ceramic tiles that line the walls. Many date back to 1585, and their intricate patterns and deep blues are typical of Seville's Triana workshops, long famous for ceramic craftsmanship. As you step inside, the entrance hall immediately impresses with its opus sectile floor—a mosaic of multi-colored marbles arranged in geometric designs, a technique borrowed from ancient Rome.

The Roman mosaics that pave almost the entire ground floor are the highlight of the visit. The most famous of these depicts the god Pan, surrounded by mythological figures and decorative borders. These mosaics, along with other Roman artifacts such as amphoras, columns, and carved stone fragments, were brought from Italica, the ancient Roman city located just outside Seville. The collection also includes Greco-Roman busts, well curbs, and statues, creating the feeling of walking through a Roman villa.

Visitors will also find paintings by European masters, including works attributed to Van Dyck, Brueghel the Elder, and the School of Murillo. The walls are adorned with Flemish tapestries, antique ceramics, and a wide array of Asian art from China and Persia, which reflect the Countess’s cosmopolitan taste. The upper floor, accessible only by guided tour, preserves the domestic charm of a noble Sevillian household, with rooms furnished in Arabic, Baroque, and 19th-century Spanish styles. These private chambers give an intimate look at how aristocratic families lived among art and history.

The History of the Lebrija Palace

The Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija was originally built in the 16th century as a typical Sevillian manor house, with two distinct areas: a cool, shaded ground floor used as a summer residence, and an upper floor reserved for winter living. Its layout follows the traditional Andalusian design, centered around a patio with marble columns, tiled walls, and a gentle fountain at its heart.

In 1914, Regla Manjón Mergelina, the Countess of Lebrija, purchased and remodeled the palace to serve as a showcase for her vast collection of art and antiquities. A passionate archaeologist and one of Seville’s most learned women of her time, she personally directed the restoration and decoration of the house, carefully integrating Roman mosaics and architectural fragments into the walls and floors. Her goal was not only to preserve these works but to create a space where they could live in harmony with the palace’s Andalusian character.

The result is an extraordinary fusion of styles and eras. Inside the palace, visitors can admire Moorish arches, Plateresque carvings, and tilework salvaged from ruined convents, alongside a coffered ceiling from another 16th-century palace and a Renaissance frieze that crowns one of the main halls. The façade, meanwhile, preserves the simple elegance of an Andalusian townhouse, with wrought-iron balconies and large wooden doors leading into the courtyard.

Today, the Lebrija Palace stands as both a museum and a monument to Seville's artistic heritage. It remains one of the few noble houses in the city that allows visitors to explore both its public and private spaces, offering a rare journey through Roman, Islamic, and Renaissance Seville—all under one roof. For lovers of history, art, and architecture, it is one of Seville's essential stops, where the legacy of ancient Italica meets the imagination of a modern Andalusian collector.

The Palacio de Lebrija appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Seville!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!