Description of the attraction
The old building of the Archbishop's Palace is located on the Palace Square in the southern part of Toledo. The palace is located near the Alcala Cathedral.
In the 13th century, King Alfonso VIII presented Archbishop Rodrigo Jimenez de Rada with several houses located opposite the Cathedral of Alcalá. Gradually, these buildings were completed, modified, and subsequently a palace arose here, which became a residence for the Toledo archbishops.
The Archbishop's Palace in Toledo played an important role in the history of both the city and the entire country. At the initial stages of construction, the palace was conceived as a citadel. Today, this fact is evidenced by the preserved Tenorio Tower, located in the eastern part of the palace. For a long time, meetings of the Cortes and military councils were held within the walls of the palace. The historic meeting of Isabella of Castile and the most famous navigator of Spain Christopher Columbus also took place here.
Throughout its long history, the building of the palace has been restored several times, as a result of which its appearance is a complex mixture of several architectural styles. The building was erected mainly of stone and brick. The main façade was created under the direction of Alonso de Covarrubias in the 16th century. The main entrance, located between two pairs of columns, is made of granite in the form of a large arch. The entablature is decorated with female figures bearing the coat of arms of Cardinal Taver.
At the end of the 19th century, the eastern facade of the building was restored in the neo-Gothic and neo-Mudejar styles by the architect Don Manuel Laredo. At the moment, restoration work is also underway in the building.
