Palma Palace

664

The building of Mudejar origin sits on a former convent of the Dominican Order. Many significant elements of the former palace remain unchanged, including its structures and original layout, decoration, porticoed courtyards, square shape, openings framed with alfiz, frequently divided by lattice-covered windows, flat decoration, abundant plasterwork, etc.

The stone entrance, built in the late 15th century, has two tiers. The first tier revolves around a large semi-circular opening framed by an alfiz decorated with Gothic thistle etchings and the coat of arms of the Counts of Palma on the spandrels. The second tier consists of three openings framed by ogee arches, with rich Gothic decoration on the central one. The ensemble is finished with a pelican flanked by hawsers wound into reels, clearly influenced by the Portuguese Manueline Gothic.

The belfry is exceptionally plain, lacking in both architectural elements and decoration. It consists of two sections and two openings. The lower section is topped by a split pediment from which emerges the upper section. This section is capped with a curved pediment crowned by a wrought-iron cross flanked by pyramid-shaped ends. It is unique in that the bichrome contrast between ochre and clay red make the pilasters, gables and apexes stand out.

Due to its poor conservation status and risk of imminent collapse, it was restored between 2003 and 2004 with the support of the Town Hall, the Andalusian Ministry of Culture and the Amigos de Écija Association.

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