The House of the Del Río Family

A treasure waiting to be discovered

The alfiz framing the coat of arms of its noble owner, the councillor Gonzalo del Río, still evokes the aesthetic of the 15th century, although the moulding no longer features the ball-and-roll decoration so common during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs.

As can be seen, the original openings on the ground floor no longer serve their original purpose. Access to the courtyard was via the entrance hall, which has long been occupied by a pharmacy. However, one reaches it through a narrow corridor that offers glimpses of one of the city’s most unique courtyards; its layout, size, features and even the Romanesque arch in one of its walls bear witness to the antiquity of the building’s original walls. Ivy that conceals part of the architecture, the slender ailanthus, the well curb and the moss-covered cobblestones of the courtyard all contribute greatly to giving the place an intimate character of great beauty.

Three sides are arcaded, supported by seven spiral limestone columns, creating that very Gothic impression of unstoppable upward movement.