Ibaigane Palace, Early 20th century palace in Abando district, Bilbao, Spain.
Ibaigane Palace is an early 20th century building located at Alameda Mazarredo 23 in Bilbao's Abando district. The structure has a square footprint of about 24 by 22 meters, rises three stories high, and features a central courtyard topped with a stained-glass ceiling.
Industrialist Ramón de la Sota, founder of shipbuilding company Euskalduna, commissioned architect Gregorio Ibarretxe to design this residence in 1900. During Franco's dictatorship, it served as a military barracks before returning to the Sota family after Franco's death.
The building blends traditional Basque farmhouse design with Italian influences like ornate door frames and red marble from nearby regions. This mix shows how wealthy Bilbao families combined local craftsmanship with continental style in their homes.
The building sits near the Nervion River within walking distance in the Abando district. Today it functions as Athletic Club Bilbao's headquarters and is not open to visitors.
Few visitors realize this mansion served as military barracks during Franco's era before returning to private hands. This hidden chapter of the building reflects broader changes that swept through Bilbao during that turbulent period.
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