Palacio de Vigil de Quiñones

Palacio de Vigil de Quiñones, also known as Palacio de Moral, is a 17th-century noble residence in the municipality of Sariego, in central Asturias, a short drive from Oviedo.

Where does this building come from?

The oldest section, the western tower, dates back to the late 16th century. Around 1580, Juan de Vigil set up a family entail (mayorazgo), a legal arrangement meant to keep the family estate from being split up among heirs. A century later, in the 17th century, Bernabé de Vigil el Viejo enlarged that original tower and gave the complex the layout still visible today. The palace was commissioned and owned by the Vigil de Quiñones family, one of the leading lineages of the Asturian nobility.

What will you see there?

The palace is built around two square, three-storey towers linked by a two-storey main block. Its upper floor carries a wooden gallery, while the ground floor opens onto an arcaded portico — though both the arcade and the gallery of the central section actually date from the early 20th century, added during a later remodeling. Stone coats of arms survive on both towers, a visible reminder of the family's noble status. Within the grounds stands a small chapel dedicated to Saint Roch (Capilla de San Roque), part of the historic ensemble.

The building has long been used for farming, and its structure is currently rated in poor condition. It appears on the Red List (Lista Roja) kept by the Spanish heritage watchdog Hispania Nostra, which tracks monuments at risk of being lost. None of this rules out a visit, but expect to view the palace from the outside only — there is no public access to the interior.

How do you get there?

Sariego is a small rural municipality in central Asturias, sitting between Oviedo and the coast, reached via local roads through nearby Sariego de Abajo and Pola de Siero. A car is the most practical option — Oviedo, the nearest major city, is roughly half an hour away. The palace makes a worthwhile stop on a tour of rural Asturias, where fortified tower-houses like this one are a defining feature of the landscape.

When is the best time to visit?

Asturias has an Atlantic climate — mild but rainy for much of the year. The steadiest weather for exploring the area falls between May and September, when the surrounding countryside is greenest. Autumn and winter bring more moisture, though the stone towers stand out just as dramatically wrapped in the mist typical of this part of Spain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the palace? No — it's privately owned and still used for agricultural work, so visits are limited to viewing the exterior.

How old is the palace? Its oldest part, the western tower, dates to the late 16th century, while the building took its current form in the 17th century under Bernabé de Vigil el Viejo.

Who were the Vigil de Quiñones family? A leading Asturian noble lineage that set up a family entail in 1580 to protect its estate, then built the present palace a century later.

Is there anything else nearby worth seeing? Yes — the grounds include the Chapel of San Roque, and the wider municipality of Sariego has several other historic houses and noble towers typical of rural Asturias.