Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba

Palace in Seville

CC BY-SA 3.0 / José Luis Filpo Cabana

The Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba, or Palace of the Marquises of La Algaba, is one of Seville's finest palaces and one of the city's best surviving examples of Mudéjar architecture, a style that beautifully blends Islamic and Christian artistic traditions. Located just behind the Feria Market—Seville's oldest and most traditional food market—the palace stands quietly in the Macarena district, a neighborhood steeped in history and character. This elegant 15th-century building combines Gothic and Mudéjar elements, showcasing the transitional artistry of late medieval Seville, when the city was flourishing as a vibrant center of trade, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange. Its imposing Mudéjar-Gothic doorway, carved in stone and remarkably preserved, immediately evokes the grandeur and sophistication of the noble families who once lived within its walls.

Inside, the palace is arranged around a central courtyard supported by marble columns from Genoa, though only a few of the originals remain. The atmosphere is serene and dignified, with architectural details that speak to centuries of refinement. Visitors can still see ornamented coffered ceilings, Gothic windows overlooking Plaza Calderón de la Barca, and decorative reliefs of coats of arms and plant motifs. The tower, similar in structure to the Torre de los Guzmanes in the nearby town of La Algaba, recalls the palace's original defensive and ceremonial purposes. The façade itself is remarkable: its lower level is built from sturdy stone blocks, while the upper section glows with polychrome tiles, creating a play of color typical of Seville's Mudéjar buildings. The grand staircase, now carefully restored, links the palace's levels and hints at the elegance that once filled these noble halls.

The Mudéjar Art Center of Seville

Today, the Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba houses the Centro de Arte Mudéjar, or Mudéjar Art Center of Seville. This small but beautifully curated museum celebrates one of Andalusia's most distinctive artistic styles, displaying over a hundred pieces dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries. The collection includes ceramic jars, baptismal fonts, carved wood, plasterwork, and household utensils, each piece demonstrating the intricate geometric and vegetal designs that define Mudéjar art. Informative bilingual panels in Spanish and English explain the origins and techniques of the style, tracing its evolution from medieval craftsmanship to modern revival.

The center also serves as a cultural venue for exhibitions, lectures, and workshops dedicated to preserving and promoting Seville's Mudéjar legacy. It offers visitors not only an aesthetic experience but also a deeper understanding of how this art form symbolized coexistence between cultures. The setting inside the palace adds to the sense of continuity, with ancient motifs reflected in the architecture surrounding the exhibits.

The History of the Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba

Construction of the palace began in 1474, commissioned by the Lord of La Algaba, a title held by one of Seville's most prominent noble families. Later, it passed into the hands of Don Francisco de Guzmán y Manrique, who expanded the property by purchasing adjacent houses and creating gardens that complemented the residence's grandeur. From this early period, the portal tower—a hallmark of 15th-century Seville architecture—still survives, standing as a link to the city's late medieval aristocracy.

Following the Napoleonic invasion and the 19th-century confiscations, the palace suffered decline. It became divided and repurposed for various uses: one part turned into a tenement house, another into the Hércules Theatre, and later, the palace gardens were converted into the Arrayán Summer Cinema, which operated until the 1960s. Despite these transformations, much of the original structure endured beneath layers of adaptation, a quiet witness to the changing life of the neighborhood.

In 1998, the City Council of Seville undertook a major restoration project that lasted until 2002, carefully recovering the palace's Mudéjar features and returning its courtyards and halls to their former elegance. Today, the Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba stands not only as a beautifully restored architectural monument but also as a vibrant center of cultural preservation. It embodies Seville's ability to honor its past while transforming historic spaces into living places of art, education, and community life.

The Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Seville!

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