Palacio del Marqués de San Feliz

Palacio del Marqués de San Feliz stands right in the historic heart of Oviedo, on Plaza de Daoíz y Velarde next to the bustling Fontán market square. It's one of Asturias's grandest Baroque town palaces, also known locally as Palacio del Duque del Parque.

Why does it carry two names?

The story starts in 1687, when the first Duke del Parque rented a house near the old comedy theatre by the Fontán. Actual construction didn't begin until the 1720s: in 1723 the duke's daughter, Isabel Trilles-Agliata y Valdés, bought up the surrounding plots to build a proper family residence, and building work ran from 1725 to 1730 under commission from Francisco de Cañas-Altamirado Acuña. The palace only passed to the San Feliz marquises in 1892 — which is why the building carries both family names today, even though the earlier "del Duque del Parque" title still appears in local references.

What's worth seeing?

The palace's real draw is its facade, widely rated as one of the finest Baroque frontages in all of Asturias. It was designed by architect Francisco de la Riva Ladrón de Guevara, who reused a layout he'd already sketched out at the nearby Camposagrado palace: narrow loophole-style openings on the ground floor, windows on the first floor, and balconies on the second. Columns flank the main entrance gate, and carved stone coats of arms sit on either side of the central balcony. The overall composition echoes other great 18th-century Oviedo palaces such as Toreno's — unsurprising, since they all share the same aristocratic architectural language of the period. The building remains privately owned and inhabited, so visits are limited to admiring the exterior from the square.

How do you get there?

The palace sits in the very centre of Oviedo's old town, an easy walk from the cathedral and the main market square. Walking is by far the best way to reach it, since the historic quarter is compact and largely closed to traffic. From the Oviedo-Universidad train station or the bus terminal, count on roughly a 15–20 minute stroll. Once there, it's worth pausing at Plaza del Fontán itself, where a traditional open-air market runs on weekends.

When should you visit?

The facade looks best in morning or late-afternoon light, when the sun brings out the relief carving on the coats of arms and stonework. Since the interior isn't open to the public, the time of year matters less here than at sites with visitable rooms — though it's worth avoiding the busiest market hours on the adjacent square if you want an uncluttered photo of the frontage.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the palace? No — it's a private residence belonging to the San Feliz marquises' family and isn't open to visitors. Only the facade and exterior can be admired from the square.

Why does the palace have two names? Because ownership passed through two noble families: the del Parque dukes' descendants initiated construction, and since 1892 the San Feliz marquises have owned it, so both names remain in use.

How old is the building? Construction ran from 1725 to 1730, though the land purchase dates to 1723 and the family's first ties to the site go back to 1687.

What's the standout architectural feature? The three-tier facade — loophole openings on the ground floor, windows above, balconies on top, flanked by columns at the main gate and decorated with carved family crests — considered one of the best Baroque frontages in Asturias.