Palacio de San Telmo, Seville

Historic Building and Palace in Seville

CC BY-SA 4.0 / CarlosVdeHabsburgo

The Palacio de San Telmo, built in 1682, is one of Seville’s most magnificent Palace and historically important buildings, and the city’s finest example of the Baroque style. Its grand façade, with sculpted figures, red-and-gold tones, and ornate detail, marks it as one of the most recognizable landmarks in Andalusia. Once a maritime academy and later a royal residence, the palace reflects the city’s transformation from a seafaring capital of empire to the political heart of southern Spain.

Originally founded as the Universidad de Mareantes — the University for Navigators — it was established to train orphaned children for service in Spain’s powerful naval fleet. This institution underscored Seville’s pivotal role as the gateway to the Americas, a city where maps, ships, and fortunes were made. The palace takes its name from Saint Telmo (Saint Elmo), the patron saint of sailors, whose image still adorns the building’s main entrance.

Architecturally, the palace follows a rectangular plan, arranged around several interior courtyards, including a large central patio. It features towers at each corner, symmetrical galleries, and expansive gardens that once extended toward the Guadalquivir River. Located just south of the historic center, between the Hotel Alfonso XIII and the riverbank, the palace underwent a decade-long restoration costing 40 million euros, completed in 2010. The careful refurbishment revived its original 17th-century splendor, returning it to its place among Seville’s most beautiful monuments.

What to Look Out For

Visitors can admire some of the most ornate Baroque features in Spain, particularly along the palace’s striking exterior.

The main portal, a masterpiece by architect Leonardo de Figueroa, is a triumph of sculptural energy and theatrical design.
Atlantean figures support the balcony above the doorway, while Ionic columns frame twelve allegorical statues representing navigation — a tribute to the building’s maritime origins.
Corinthian columns and sculptures of Saint Ferdinand and Saint Hermenegild, two of Seville’s most revered monarchs, complete the composition.
At the center stands Saint Telmo, holding a ship, symbolizing divine guidance over sailors.
Two seated statues with cornucopias flank the entrance, representing abundance and prosperity.

Inside, the Chapel of San Telmo is a gem of Andalusian Baroque religious art. The single-nave chapel has a barrel vault ceiling and five richly gilded altarpieces, each adorned with sculptures and paintings dedicated to the saints of navigation and the sea.

The Patio de San Jerónimo, directly behind the entrance, features palm trees, a clock tower, and small busts depicting Seville’s most celebrated historical figures. Another highlight is the Salón de Espejos (Hall of Mirrors), originally built as a royal ballroom, with dazzling geometric azulejos on the staircase and mirrored walls that capture and amplify the Andalusian light. The upstairs rooms retain their parquet floors and intricately painted coffered wood ceilings, while along the north façade, the Gallery of Illustrious Sevillians honors the city’s poets, scientists, and explorers.

The History of the Palacio de San Telmo

The Palacio de San Telmo was begun in 1682 as a marine academy, dedicated to training ship pilots, navigators, and officers for Spain’s colonial fleets. The choice of location near the river was symbolic — this was where Spain’s maritime power set sail for the New World. The palace’s name honored Saint Telmo, protector of sailors, whose legend was well known among seafarers of the time.

In 1849, the building entered a new era when it became a royal residence for the Dukes of Montpensier, members of the French royal family who had settled in Seville. They undertook major renovations, adding the north tower, a grand mounting block entrance hall, the east wing, and the ballroom. The interiors were richly decorated with stucco, gilding by Pelli and Rossi, and paintings brought from the Vista Alegre Palace. The ceilings of the ballroom were painted by Rafael Tejeo, turning the palace into one of the most elegant in 19th-century Spain.

The palace once boasted gardens of almost eighteen hectares, designed in the style of Versailles. These gardens were later donated to the city in 1893 by Maria Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier, and became the famous Parque de María Luisa — now one of Seville’s great public spaces. Upon her death in 1897, she donated the palace to the Archbishopric of Seville, and in 1901 it became a seminary for priests. During Spain’s war with Morocco, it also served as a refuge for wounded soldiers.

In the 20th century, the palace fell into disrepair and suffered serious damage in a fire in 1952, but was saved and restored several times afterward. A major rehabilitation in the 1980s preserved its structure, and in 1992 it was designated as the official seat of the Presidency of the Andalusian Government.

Today, Palacio de San Telmo continues to serve as the administrative and ceremonial heart of Andalusia, while remaining one of Seville’s most iconic Baroque landmarks. Its grand façade, chapels, and courtyards tell the story of a city that has always looked both to the sea and to the future.

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

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Visiting Palacio de San Telmo

Hours:

To visit Email: [email protected], with full name and ID number of person making the reservation. Visits:

Thursdays (4:00 pm – 9:00 pm), Saturdays (10:00 am – 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm).

Price:

Free

Address: San Telmo Palace, Calle Palos de la Frontera, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

Telephone: +34 955 062 627

Official Website