Tudela Town Hall

Tudela Town Hall (Ayuntamiento de Tudela) is the seat of the local government of Tudela, in the Navarre region of Spain, standing on Plaza Vieja right next to the town's cathedral. Its façade reveals a building shaped by centuries of layered construction, from medieval foundations to a much later neoclassical makeover.

How do you get there?

The town hall sits at the heart of Tudela's old quarter, at Plaza Vieja 1, only a short walk from the cathedral and from Plaza de los Fueros, the other main square that together with Plaza Vieja forms the historic core of the city. Tudela is easiest to reach by train or bus from Pamplona (roughly 45–60 minutes) or from Zaragoza (a similar travel time). Once you're in town, the old center is compact and best explored on foot — narrow streets and traffic restrictions make driving through it impractical.

What will you see?

The town hall is actually made up of two joined buildings: a main block facing Plaza Vieja at the corner with Calle Cárcel Vieja, and a second one opening onto Calle Rúa. The three-story main façade stands out for its gallery of pointed arches and a projecting wooden eave, features that hint at the building's origins at the end of the 15th century, when it was raised on the site of the former Almudí houses belonging to Mosén Pierres de Peralta. The façade itself, though, was reworked around 1800 in a neoclassical style, so what visitors see today is really a blend of two very different periods — a Gothic-era structure dressed in classical lines.

The interior and structure went through repeated repairs and alterations across the 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries, culminating in a thorough restoration in 1994 that recovered the original look of the façade, the entrance hall, the cellars, and the main halls. One lesser-known detail: the cellars of the main building served as the town jail from 1562 until 1841, a curious chapter in the building's long history.

Standing in Plaza Vieja, it's worth taking in the whole ensemble — the square sits beside the cathedral, and together with the town hall it forms one of the most recognizable architectural groups in old Tudela. For centuries this has been the administrative and social heart of the city.

When should you visit?

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the most comfortable times to wander Plaza Vieja and admire the town hall's façade, since Navarre's summer heat can make extended walking uncomfortable. The building itself is a working municipal office, so its interior isn't open to casual sightseeing — most of what visitors experience is the exterior, best appreciated from the square and the surrounding streets of the old town.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the town hall? The building is an active municipal office, so public access is limited to the areas open during working hours for administrative purposes. It isn't set up as a visitor attraction with regular interior tours.

How old is the building? Its roots go back to the end of the 15th century, when it was built on the site of the former Almudí houses. The neoclassical façade visible today dates from a remodeling around 1800, and a full restoration took place in 1994.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The cathedral of Santa María stands right beside the town hall, and Plaza de los Fueros along with the other historic streets of old Tudela are all within easy walking distance.

Is it true the town hall was once linked to a jail? Yes — the cellars of the main building were used as the town's jail from 1562 to 1841, one of the more unusual facts tied to this landmark.