Palacio de los Páez de Castillejo

Palacio de los Páez de Castillejo is a Renaissance palace in Córdoba, standing on Plaza de Jerónimo Páez right in the heart of the old town. Built in the 16th century and attributed to the architect Hernán Ruiz II, one of the most celebrated names of Andalusia's golden age of architecture, the building today houses Córdoba's Archaeological Museum — one of the rare places where the city's Roman, Islamic and Christian layers of history sit stacked one on top of the other under the same roof.

What history is hidden in this spot?

The ground the palace stands on has Roman roots. Under Emperor Augustus, this site held the theatre of the Roman colony of Colonia Patricia — one of the largest in all of Hispania and among the largest in the entire empire. After the Muslim conquest, the plot changed character: in the final years of Islamic rule it was the home of a Muslim scholar (alfaquí) named Ibrahim Ben Nasçer. In time the property passed to Fernán Páez de Castillejo, a member of Córdoba's city council, whose family name the palace still carries.

What's worth seeing inside?

The palace's façade is considered one of the best-preserved examples of secular Renaissance architecture in Spain. Its iconographic programme was designed to highlight the origins and standing of the Páez de Castillejo family — the stonework details tell the family's story almost like an inscription. Inside, the building is organized around three courtyards, now filled with sculpture fragments and architectural pieces from the museum's archaeological collection. In 1944, the palace was chosen as the seat of the museum, and the adaptation works were carried out by architect Félix Hernández Giménez — in a sense continuing, four centuries later, the work Hernán Ruiz II had begun.

How do you get there?

The palace sits in Córdoba's historic centre, within the UNESCO-listed old town, so the easiest way to reach it is on foot from nearby landmarks. The narrow streets of the centre make this an area best explored without a car.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for exploring Córdoba — summer heat in this part of Andalusia can be intense, which matters especially when visiting open patios and courtyards. The palace's interior, kept cool by thick walls and shaded courtyards, also offers a natural break from the heat during the warmer months.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Palacio de los Páez de Castillejo originally? It was a private city palace built in the 16th century for the Páez de Castillejo family, on land previously occupied by a Roman theatre and later by Islamic-period buildings.

What is inside the building today? Since 1944, the palace has housed Córdoba's Archaeological Museum, with collections spanning multiple periods of the city's history.

Who designed the palace? The building is attributed to Hernán Ruiz II, one of the most important Renaissance architects working in Córdoba and Andalusia.

Is the palace's façade particularly notable? Yes — it is regarded as one of the best-preserved façades of secular Renaissance architecture in Spain, with a rich iconographic programme dedicated to the founding family.