Casa de los Perero

Casa de los Perero is one of the noble town houses standing in the historic centre of Cáceres, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The building sits close to Plaza de Santa Clara, within the dense network of lanes that make up the old town, where medieval towers stand shoulder to shoulder with Renaissance facades built by the city's ruling families.

How do you get there?

The old town of Cáceres is closed to traffic, so the easiest way to reach Casa de los Perero is on foot. Starting from Plaza Mayor, the city's main square and the natural jumping-off point for sightseeing, it takes only a few minutes to walk uphill into the monumental quarter. Head toward Plaza de Santa Clara — the house stands in that immediate area, surrounded by other historic residences. Car parking is available just outside the old town walls, from where steep, cobbled streets typical of this part of the city lead up to the monument.

What will you see?

Construction took place in stages across the 15th and 16th centuries, which is why the building blends Gothic and Renaissance features. The main facade is symmetrical and well balanced, dominated by a large arched doorway, while the windows are framed by decorative borders carved with a small quilted pattern. Above the entrance sit the coats of arms of the Perero family, knights of the Order of Alcántara who once owned the property — a common way for Cáceres' powerful families to stamp their presence on a house front.

The most valuable part of the building, however, is its inner courtyard, dated to 1561 and designed by the architect Pedro de Marquina. The two-storey, column-lined gallery is decorated with carved gargoyles bearing human faces alongside further family coats of arms — a striking mix of near-fantastical ornament and disciplined Renaissance architectural composition. This courtyard is often singled out as one of the more interesting examples of Renaissance stone carving in Cáceres.

Today the building operates as the Colegio Mayor Universitario "Francisco de Sande", a university residence hall run by the Diputación de Cáceres. That means the interior is not generally open to visitors, but the facade and overall structure can be admired from the street year-round while walking through the monumental quarter.

When should you visit?

The best time to explore Cáceres' old town is spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October), when temperatures are milder than during Extremadura's scorching summer. In July and August, temperatures regularly climb past 35°C, making long walks along the shadeless, stone-paved lanes uncomfortable. Morning hours are a good choice for seeing the facade in soft light and for avoiding the crowds that gather on the nearby squares later in the day.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Casa de los Perero? The building functions as a university residence hall, so the interior is essentially reserved for the students living in the Colegio Mayor. In practice, visits are limited to viewing the facade from outside.

From which period does the building date? The house was built in stages during the 15th and 16th centuries. The facade shows Gothic elements, while its most notable feature, the inner courtyard, is dated to 1561.

Who built this house? The building is linked to the Perero family, knights of the Order of Alcántara, whose coats of arms appear on the facade and in the courtyard. The Renaissance courtyard was designed by the architect Pedro de Marquina.

Is it worth combining with other Cáceres landmarks? Yes — Casa de los Perero stands right in the heart of the monumental quarter, near Plaza de Santa Clara, making it easy to see alongside the other palaces and towers of the old town.