Palacio ducal de Medinaceli, Renaissance palace in Medinaceli, Spain
The Ducal Palace of Medinaceli is a Renaissance building with a symmetrical facade, two floors, and flanking towers decorated with balconies featuring curved pediments. The structure sits on the Plaza Mayor and now houses ten exhibition rooms with rotating cultural displays.
Juan Gómez de Mora designed this residence in 1625 for the Duke of Medinaceli, incorporating architectural elements similar to those at Lerma Palace. Decades of neglect left the building nearly in ruins until extensive restoration in the 1990s brought it back to its current state.
The palace displays Roman mosaics from the 2nd and 4th centuries, including one featuring geometric patterns dedicated to the goddess Ceres. These ancient artworks give visitors a sense of the artistic craftsmanship that existed in this region long before the palace itself was built.
The palace features ten exhibition rooms on the ground floor with rotating cultural displays that have been shown since the museum opened in December 2008. Its location on the Plaza Mayor makes the building easy to access for visitors exploring the town center.
The building also contains ancient Roman mosaics from several centuries that were discovered during excavations on the property. These findings reveal that important structures and artistic works already existed at this location during ancient times.
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