Palacio Arzobispal, Toledo, Archbishop's palace in Toledo, Spain

The Palacio Arzobispal is a large palace opposite Toledo Cathedral and beside the City Hall. Its main facade on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, designed by Alonso de Covarrubias from 1543, has a granite semicircular arch framed by cushioned voussoirs and paired Ionic columns. A small iron balcony with nymphs holding Cardinal Tavera's coat of arms sits above the portal, and a triangular pediment bears the Habsburg double eagle.

In the 13th century, Alfonso VIII donated houses facing the cathedral to Archbishop Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada; successive prelates expanded them gradually. In the second half of the 15th century, Cardinal Mendoza built the first arch linking the palace to the cathedral. From 1541, Alonso de Covarrubias directed major remodelling, and the main facade was begun in 1543 under Cardinal Tavera.

The palace reflects different artistic periods that shaped it: Gothic roots, Renaissance reworking, and Baroque chapel additions made over centuries. You can see how successive archbishops modified and expanded the building according to their own tastes.

The building sits directly across from Toledo Cathedral and is easy to locate when exploring the cathedral square. From outside you can admire the architecture and façade details, with the covered corridor between palace and cathedral being a notable feature to look for.

The nymphs holding Cardinal Tavera's coat of arms are not on the iron railing: they are stone figures set at the two ends of the entablature above the main portal, flanking the small iron balcony with its ball-topped grille and cross-shaped glazing. The triangular pediment above holds a double-headed eagle breaking its base.