Palacio de los Castejones

Palacio de los Castejones is a Renaissance-era palace in Soria, in the Castile and León region of Spain. It stands on Calle Aduana Vieja, one of the old town's most distinguished streets, lined with 16th-century noble houses.

Who built it, and why here?

The palace was built by the Castejón family, an influential lineage with strong ties to the nearby town of Ágreda, where another palace bearing the same name still stands (worth keeping the two apart when planning a visit). Construction dates to the 16th century, a period when Soria's wool trade brought considerable wealth to the region, allowing local nobility to raise grand residences inside the city walls. This particular building went up right next to the defensive walls and one of the city gates, since nobles who settled in such spots took on the duty of defending them. For a long stretch of its history, the palace was known by another name — Casa de los Clavos, the "House of Nails" — after the thick, nail-shaped metal fittings that decorated its front door.

What you'll see — the architecture

This is one of the finest surviving examples of Plateresque style in the city of Soria, rivaled only by the neighboring Palacio de los Ríos y Salcedo. The facade is built of ashlar stone and organized across three floors: a small window opening at ground level, large windows above, and a middle section marked by openings decorated with carved shells — a hallmark of the Plateresque style. The doorway, topped with a segmental arch, carries the family's coat of arms held up by two carved "wild men" figures, a motif common in Spanish heraldic sculpture of the era. Today the palace sits joined to the neighboring Palacio de Don Diego de Solier, forming a continuous stretch of noble architecture along the street.

Getting there and best time to visit

The palace sits in Soria's historic center, on Calle Aduana Vieja, within easy walking distance of the old town's main sights. It's best explored on foot, ideally as part of a longer stroll down the same street, which is home to several other palaces from the same period. Since only the facade can be viewed, the season matters less here than at sites with visitable interiors — spring and autumn tend to be the most pleasant times, when temperatures are milder than Soria's dry, hot summers.

What to know before you go

The building is now a private residence, so visits are limited to admiring the facade from street level. Even so, the facade alone — with its rich stonework and the Castejón family crest — makes the stop worthwhile, especially for anyone interested in Plateresque architecture. Bring a camera: the carved details show up best in daylight, when shadows bring out the depth of the stonework.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the palace? No — the building is privately owned and used as a residence. Visits are limited to viewing the facade from Calle Aduana Vieja.

How is this palace different from the Palacio de los Castejones in Ágreda? They're two separate buildings that once belonged to the same family. This one stands in Soria, on Calle Aduana Vieja, while the other — with Renaissance gardens — is located in the nearby town of Ágreda.

Why was it called Casa de los Clavos? Because of the distinctive, thick nail-shaped metal fittings that decorated its entrance door — the nickname stuck for years.

How long does a visit take? Since only the facade is visible, a few minutes is enough — best combined with a walk along the rest of Calle Aduana Vieja and its neighboring noble palaces.