House of the episcopal chamber

Casa de la Cámara Episcopal is a historic house standing at the heart of Agüimes, on the island of Gran Canaria, facing the Parque de los Moros between Calle Obispo Verdugo and Calle Progreso. From the outside it reads as a modest, traditional Canarian townhouse, but its history is tightly bound to the island's church administration and to the Verdugo family, whose influence shaped much of the town's architecture over the centuries.

Where does the name come from?

The building takes its name from the role it once played for the local church: it housed the Cámara Episcopal, the episcopal chamber of the Villa de Agüimes. This is where tithes and firstfruits — payments in kind granted to Bishop Frías by the Catholic Monarchs — were collected and stored. Over time the house also became known as Casas de Verdugo or Palacio Episcopal, names that reflect its close association with one of the most prominent families in the region.

When was the house built?

The house was raised in the mid-18th century on the initiative of the Verdugo family. Its owners gave it a dual purpose: on one hand it served as a summer residence for bishops visiting Agüimes, and on the other as a storage facility for agricultural produce collected through church tithes. This combination of residential and functional use was common in Canarian architecture of the period, when large houses often paired representative living spaces with working areas tied to estate management.

What does the building's architecture look like?

The structure is made up of two perpendicular naves under a two-slope tiled roof. The longer nave defines the main façade and entrance, while the shorter one turns its side elevation toward Calle Obispo Verdugo. The side wing rises over two floors, reached by a stone-and-wood staircase that begins in the interior courtyard. On the upper level, the staircase opens onto a gallery supported by slender wooden posts — a detail typical of traditional Canarian domestic architecture, where timber balconies and galleries serve both structural and decorative purposes.

The interior courtyard, around which the whole building is organised, is a hallmark of patrician houses from this era. It let light and air reach the rooms naturally while creating a private space shielded from the street.

Why is this building worth a stop while exploring Agüimes?

Casa de la Cámara Episcopal sits right next to Parque de los Moros, one of the most visited spots in Agüimes' old town, making it a natural stop on any walk through the historic centre. The building stands as physical evidence of how deeply the church was once woven into the administration and economy of the local community — tithes and firstfruits were a significant source of diocesan income, and houses like this one were built to collect and manage them.

For visitors interested in Canarian architecture, the house is a clear example of how residential and functional spaces were combined within a single structure, and its upper-floor wooden gallery remains one of the more distinctive details of this building type on the island.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Cámara Episcopal in Agüimes? It was the episcopal chamber responsible for collecting the tithes and firstfruits granted to Bishop Frías by the Catholic Monarchs.

Who built this house? It was built by the Verdugo family in the mid-18th century, which is why the building is also known as Casas de Verdugo.

Where exactly is the building located? It faces Parque de los Moros, between Calle Obispo Verdugo and Calle Progreso, in the historic centre of Agüimes on Gran Canaria.

What function did the house serve besides being a residence? It stored agricultural produce collected as church tithes and also served as a summer residence for visiting bishops.