Palacio de los Altamira

Palacio de los Altamira stands on the Plaza Mayor of Almazán, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the province of Soria, Castile and León. Also known as the Palacio de los Hurtado de Mendoza, the building combines two distinct architectural periods and is tied directly to the presence of the Catholic Monarchs in Spain at the close of the 15th century.

How do you get there?

Almazán sits in the province of Soria, along the route connecting the city of Soria with Madrid and Zaragoza, making it an easy stop for anyone driving through northern Castile. The palace occupies the heart of town, right on the Plaza Mayor next to the Church of San Miguel, so once you reach the old quarter it is impossible to miss — it anchors the main square around which the whole town revolves. The nearest larger city is Soria, a short drive away and connected by regional bus services.

What will you see?

The palace was built in the 15th century by Pedro González de Mendoza y Luna, Lord of Almazán and first Count of Monteagudo, who served as Guarda Mayor under King Henry IV of Castile. Between April and June 1496, the palace hosted the Catholic Monarchs, and their firstborn son, Prince Juan, lived there until March 1497 — a fact that places the building among the notable settings of Spanish dynastic history at the time.

The architecture splits clearly into two phases. The older wing, facing the Duero river valley, dates from the late 15th century and follows the Gothic-Isabelline style. Its standout feature is a gallery formed by eleven finely molded, lowered arches decorated with ball ornaments, covered by a wooden ceiling painted with eight-pointed stars and vegetal motifs.

The second, Renaissance phase was most likely commissioned around 1575, when the lordship of Almazán was elevated to a marquisate under Francisco Hurtado de Mendoza y Chacón. The main façade, facing the Plaza Mayor, features a stone doorway topped by a balcony, flanked by paired Ionic columns and crowned with a curved pediment bearing the family coat of arms. Inside, the main staircase holds a window opening in pure Isabelline style, and the way the balcony is layered onto the façade gives the whole building a distinctly classical air.

The palace holds the status of Bien de Interés Cultural, Spain's designation for assets of cultural significance, underlining its importance to the region's architectural heritage.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for Almazán, when Castilian temperatures are milder than the hot summer months and the light brings out the detail in the stone façade and the river-facing gallery. The Plaza Mayor and the palace exterior can be visited year-round, since this is a public square at the center of town.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the palace? Interior access varies depending on the building's current use, so it is worth contacting Almazán's tourist office (tel. 975 310 502) beforehand for up-to-date visiting information.

Why is it called "Palacio de los Altamira"? The name comes from the title of the Counts of Altamira, linked to the Hurtado de Mendoza family who ruled over Almazán and built the residence — hence both names, Palacio de los Altamira and Palacio de los Hurtado de Mendoza, are used interchangeably.

What is the palace's connection to the Catholic Monarchs? Between 1496 and 1497, the palace hosted the Catholic Monarchs and their son, Prince Juan, directly linking the building to a pivotal moment in Spanish royal history at the dawn of the modern era.

How long does it take to see the palace and its surroundings? The square and façades alone take about 20-30 minutes to appreciate, but combining the visit with a walk through Almazán's old town and the nearby Church of San Miguel extends the outing to roughly two hours.