Palace of the Counts from Grajal

This is a key landmark of early Renaissance period in León. This astonishing, 3600 square-meter building (38750 sq. ft) was built in the early 16^th century by the Lord of Grajal, Don Hernando de Vega. It was commanded to Italian architects Cristóbal and Laorenzo de Adonza.

It was built in two stages, the turrets’ structure being put up in the first one, as well as the main rooms, the two-story central courtyard and the stand accessing the church’s presbytery.

Don Hernando’s son, Don Juan de Vega, led the second building stage. He was an ambassador to the Vatican and viceroy of Sicily. The palace was, then, embellished according to Mediterranean fashion of the period. The capitals at the courtyard’s columns were sculpted, the floors and walls covered with Mediterranean tiles, and the staircase was decorated with symbolic motifs (such as the winged hippopotami representing the storming of Tunis, in which amphibious artillery was used).

Inside the palace there are these and other architectural marvels, such as the arcades, cornices, balusters, passages, doors, galleries… One of the most important parts of the Palace is its lodge or Italian-type Renaissance gallery. It opens up to the town’s square, from where the counts attended and presided over public events.

The artistic richness preserved in this castle was immense: paintings, kitchenware, crockery, clocks, tin and silver objects, small bells, braziers, lamps, vases, clothes, furniture, mirrors, tables, desks, coats of arms, sideboards, jewels, missals, chasubles, candelabra, fine upholstery with historic motifs, beds, bronzed, damasks, Turkish rugs, boxes, chests, the stable of horses’ basic tools, arms, armors, saddles… It was, in sum, a true museum.

Address: Grajal de Campos

Opening hours:

• July and August:
• Wednesday through Sunday and holidays, from 10.00 to 1.30 PM and 4.30 to 8.30 PM.
• September and Holy Week (Easter):
• Wednesday through Sunday and holidays, from 10.00 to 2.00 PM and 4 to 7 PM.