Description of the attraction
The Palacio de Viana is an aristocratic building in Cordoba, from the 15th to the 19th century owned by the Marquis of Villaseca. In 1873, the Marquis of Villaseca, the sole heiress of all the family property, married Don Theobaldo Saavedra, son of the Duke of Rivas, to whom King Alfonso XII bestowed the title of Marquis of Vian - hence the modern name of the palace. In 1980, the building was sold to the Provincial Savings Bank of Cordoba, and today it belongs to the CahaSur Foundation.
A visit to Palação de Viana is a great opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of an old aristocratic estate and see with your own eyes various architectural styles, works of art and household items of wealthy members of the society of the past. The customs and tastes of the wealthy aristocracy are reflected here in a wonderful collection of works of art - embossed leather goods, royal muskets, tapestries, paintings, porcelain, pieces of furniture from different eras, archaeological artifacts, etc. A special attraction of the palace is its 12 courtyards and garden, each decorated in its own unique style. Only here, walking through the luxurious galleries, you can see five centuries of the history of Cordoba, without leaving one building. The Courtyard of the Cats is decorated in a medieval style, the Renaissance Courtyard serves as a symbol of power and ancestry, as does the Courtyard of Receptions. The Baroque style is featured in the Archives Courtyard, while a typical romantic garden can be found in Madame's Courtyard and Vian's Garden. There are also working areas here - the Gardeners' Yard, the Basin Yard and the Well; privacy zones, such as the Chapel Yard, and real greenhouses, the Orange Yard. In 2012, all courtyards of the Palacio de Viana were opened to the public in a new, restored form.
Most of the first floor of the Palacio de Viana is devoted to an exhibition dedicated to the power of the aristocracy of the past. The entire western wing of the building and part of the eastern one is occupied by the exhibition "Those Who Lived in the Palace", and the upper floor of the eastern wing is given over to the "Big Collection".
