Casa de los Vázquez

Casa de los Vázquez in Ciudad Rodrigo is a 16th-century noble townhouse standing in the historic old town of this walled city in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León. It belongs to a group of Gothic-Renaissance stone mansions that give Ciudad Rodrigo's centre its distinctive character, in a historic quarter that is protected in its entirety as a Spanish national monument.

Who built the house?

Construction began in the early 1500s, commissioned by Francisco Vázquez, nicknamed "el Indiano" — a term used at the time for Spaniards who made their fortune in the American colonies and returned home to invest it in their native town. The entailed estate later passed to the Águila family, and in the 19th century it came by inheritance to the Bernaldo de Quirós family.

What architectural style does it show?

The building sits between late Gothic and early Renaissance design. Its most recognizable feature is the corner entrance, set at an angle where two facades meet, with a balcony rising above the doorway. The portal itself is Gothic in character, carved with plant motifs and framed by an alfiz border, with the Vázquez family coat of arms displayed above it. Inside, an artesonado — a coffered wooden ceiling — survives along with Sevillian tiles decorating the entrance hall.

What happened to the house over the centuries?

In 1923 the Bernaldo de Quirós family had the interior renovated and redecorated. Five years later, in 1928, King Alfonso XIII stayed at the house during a visit to Ciudad Rodrigo, an episode still mentioned in accounts of the building's history. These two events, only a few years apart, mark the closing chapter of the house's life as a private residence before its use changed for good.

Can visitors go inside?

Since 1944 the house has served as the town's post office (Correos), so access to the interior is limited to the post office's opening hours, on weekday mornings. Visitors who come during those hours can see the tiled entrance hall and glimpse part of the historic decoration, though most of the building remains working office space rather than an area set up for touring.

Where exactly is it located?

The house stands within the old walled centre of Ciudad Rodrigo, near the square known as Plaza de Cristóbal Castillejo. This is a typical location for the town's historic bourgeois architecture — close to other period houses and the main sights of the old town, making it easy to combine a look at the facade with a wider walk through the historic centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Casa de los Vázquez a museum? No. It has functioned as a post office since 1944, so visits are limited to whatever areas are accessible during office hours.

Who built the house and when? It was built in the early 16th century for Francisco Vázquez, known as "el Indiano".

What architectural style is the building? Late Gothic with early Renaissance touches, most visible in the corner portal and the balcony above it.

Have any original interior features survived? Yes — the coffered artesonado ceiling and Sevillian tiles in the entrance hall remain, even though the interior was redecorated in 1923.