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The building that encloses the Palace-Museum of Viana Marquises is in situated into the popular section of Saint Marina, which denomination was given in the XIII Century , when Ferdinand III the Saint ordered to build the church that gave the name to this section.
The matrix house has suffered numerous transformations till our days, standing out the one happened in the XVII Century, that conferred the nowadays aspect. In the XX Century, between 1953 and 1963 , the building was restored in order to be a museum. The works were run by the cordovan architect Carlos Sáenz de Santamaría.
The surface of the complex is more than 6500 squared meters, 4000 meters of them belonging to patios (courts), gardens and open zones. The plan has an irregular shape, because they have added a great numbers of houses to the original building. For this reason there is any shown off façade which reflects the nobility of its owners, only the entrance on one corner in the Don Gome Square, who reflects the greatness of Viana Marquis.
We don’t know exactly who is the author of this entrance, generally it was related to Juan de Ochoa, although sometimes it was attributed to Francisco del Castillo for the design, or Hernán Ruiz II. It has a first part shouldered , with square shape , on which there is a split up cornice by the balcony of the second part, which is framed by two sculptures added to the façade. These sculptures are mythological. The complex is crowned, on the balcony, by a family shield, the Saavedra family, with cimera and crown of the marquis, inside the collars of the Charles III order and the golden fleece.
The itinerary is very interesting. You have to understand the space not only as a museum, that it is, but as a house, built according the necessities of the owners. We have organised the visit as the palace is presented to the public, beginning with the open spaces, what we mean, the patios (courts) and the garden. Latterly we have analysed the Ground Floor, where stands out the Tobias Lounge, decorated with excellent frescos related to the personal life of this biblical character. Then we go up the Main Stairs, a wonderful one, to the nobel floor, that is divided into 2 zones, the oriental and the occidental. The richest and luxurious furniture is situated in these rooms, where the exotic Black Bedroom contrasts with the luxurious Red Lounge or the Field Kitchen.
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