Palacio de Valdecarzana, Avilés

Palacio de Valdecarzana sits on the corner of Calle de la Ferrería and Calle del Sol, right in the historic core of Avilés, Asturias. It holds the title of oldest surviving civil building in the whole region, and it's the town's only Gothic structure not built for religious use — making it the sole remaining example of bourgeois architecture from that era.

Why was it built, and by whom?

A wealthy local merchant commissioned the building between the late 13th and early 14th century as his private home. Its layout mirrored how merchant families lived and worked at the time: the ground floor operated as a shop or market space, while the upper floor housed the merchant and his family. In the 17th century the property passed into the hands of the Valdecarzana family, whose name it still carries today.

Local tradition also links the palace to a dramatic chapter of Castilian history. According to legend, King Pedro I "the Cruel" spent the night here in 1352 after arriving to lift the siege that his half-brother, the rebel Enrique de Trastámara, had laid on Avilés.

What should you look for when you visit?

The standout feature is the pair of twin windows (ventanas geminadas) on the first floor, remarkably well preserved and considered one of the finest surviving details of Gothic civil architecture in the region. It's worth noting that only one facade has survived largely unchanged since construction — the one facing Calle de la Ferrería — and it's the one most visitors photograph.

Compared to noble palaces elsewhere in Spain, the building is modest in scale, but it captures the essence of medieval merchant architecture: solid stone walls, a narrow footprint shaped by the urban plot, and a clear functional split between trading space below and living quarters above.

How do you get there, and what's inside today?

The palace sits within the pedestrian old town of Avilés, so walking is by far the easiest way to reach it — it's one of the natural stops on a stroll through the historic center, close to other period houses and churches. Starting in 1997, the building underwent a major restoration led by architect Julio L. Redondo, completed in 2000. It now houses the Municipal Archive of Avilés and also serves a cultural role, hosting exhibitions and events in its auditorium space.

When is the best time to come?

Since the building is mostly appreciated from the outside, with its interior given over to archive and exhibition functions, timing a visit around one of the city's temporary exhibitions is worthwhile — check Avilés's cultural calendar before you go. The old town itself is pleasant to explore year-round, though spring and early autumn tend to offer the most comfortable weather for walking its historic streets.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Palacio de Valdecarzana? It's the oldest civil building in Asturias, built in the late 13th or early 14th century as a wealthy merchant's residence and now home to the Municipal Archive of Avilés.

Where does the name Valdecarzana come from? It comes from the Valdecarzana family, who acquired the property in the 17th century.

What's the palace's most notable architectural feature? Its twin Gothic windows on the first floor, one of the best-preserved examples of this detail in the region.

Can you visit the interior? The building functions as an archive and exhibition space, so access depends on whatever cultural events the city is hosting at the time.