Palacio de los Álvarez Castellanos

Palacio de los Álvarez Castellanos is a Baroque palace in Ricote, a small town in the Ricote Valley (Valle de Ricote) in the Murcia region of Spain. The building is also known by its older name, Palacio de Llamas, and has long served as the seat of the local town hall.

Where does the palace's name come from?

The building was originally erected as the family residence of the Llamas family. Francisco de Llamas, married to Juana de Villa, held the office of perpetual councilman (regidor perpetuo) of Ricote. When the Llamas line died out without direct heirs, ownership passed after 1830 to the Álvarez Castellanos family, the relatives who inherited the estate — and from whom the palace takes the name still used today. The Llamas family also produced several notable figures connected with the house: the jurist Sancho de Llamas y Molina, who sat on the Royal Treasury Council; General Pedro de Llamas, who helped defend Murcia during the Peninsular War and later served as a delegate to the Cortes; and Isabel de Llamas, a Poor Clare nun who founded a convent in Cieza.

When was the palace built, and in what style?

Construction is dated to the early 18th century, specifically to 1702. The palace follows a sober, restrained Baroque style with French influence, typical of noble residences of the period in the Murcia region. The identity of the master builder is not documented — no surviving records confirm the architect, though it has been suggested he may also have worked on the nearby Church of San Sebastián.

What architectural features stand out?

The façade is built of solid ashlar stonework, laid to emphasize movement in the pilasters. The entrance is flanked by two columns supporting a balcony and a frieze bearing the family coat of arms, while the vestibule holds a Baroque column carved with the Llamas family's heraldic shield. Wrought ironwork from the period also survives on the exterior.

Inside, the most distinctive feature is an imperial-style staircase with a wooden balustrade shaped into Solomonic columns. Above the stairwell rises a dome resting on pendentives decorated with paintings featuring Moorish-inspired motifs. Windows placed toward the four cardinal points, as well as in the dome itself, create a characteristic play of light and shadow throughout the interior.

It's worth knowing that the current building occupies only about a quarter of the palace's original footprint — the rest of the historic residence has not survived.

How do you get to the palace?

The palace stands on Plaza de España in the center of Ricote. Ricote lies within the Ricote Valley, reached via the Murcia–Madrid highway (Archena exit) and then the Mu-520 local road running through the valley.

Can visitors see the inside?

The building currently functions as the seat of Ricote's town hall (Ayuntamiento de Ricote), so it is an active municipal office. The façade and exterior architecture can be freely viewed from Plaza de España, while access to the interior depends on the town hall's opening hours — it's worth checking locally or with the tourist information office before visiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Palacio de los Álvarez Castellanos and Palacio de Llamas the same building? Yes, they refer to the same palace. Palacio de Llamas is the historical name tied to the original owners, while Palacio de los Álvarez Castellanos (or Casa de los Álvarez Castellanos) comes from the family that inherited the building after 1830.

When was the palace built? It dates to 1702, in the early 18th century, built in a sober Baroque style with French influence.

What is the building used for today? It serves as the town hall of Ricote (Ayuntamiento de Ricote).

What is the most distinctive feature of the interior? An imperial staircase with a wooden balustrade shaped like Solomonic columns, topped by a dome decorated with paintings of Moorish-inspired motifs.