Palacio del Marqués de la Sonora, 18th-century palace in central Málaga, Spain
Palacio del Marqués de la Sonora is an 18th-century palace featuring a marble entrance hall with Tuscan columns, decorative pilasters, and ornamental garland friezes across its facade. The building displays the refined architectural style typical of its era.
Built in 1789 under the influence of architect José Martín de Aldehuela, the palace originally served as a storage facility for playing cards and paper destined for trade with the New World. This initial purpose reflected the building's role in Malaga's commercial importance.
A brochure from 1839 records the building housing the Colegio de señoritas La Minerva, a girls' school. The palace stayed with the Carrillo family until at least 1863. Later it passed to Aurelia Ghiara Picasso, a first cousin of Pablo Picasso, whose widowed daughter Aurelia Sierra Ghiara received it as a gift and kept living there after selling it to the marquesa de Larios.
The palace is located on Granada Street in central Malaga near Santiago Apóstol Church and Plaza de la Merced, making it easy to reach on foot. Its central position allows you to combine a visit with other nearby landmarks.
Archaeological excavations beneath the building revealed Roman remains that have shaped recent renovation plans for its conversion into a hotel. These underground findings add a hidden historical layer to the structure beyond what meets the eye on the surface.
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