Castril Palace, Renaissance palace and archaeological museum in Sacromonte district, Granada, Spain.
Castril Palace is a Renaissance building with Plateresque style and detailed decorative elements across its facade, situated in the Sacromonte neighborhood. Inside, it holds an archaeological museum with around 120 objects that document different periods of regional history.
The palace was built in 1539 and belonged to Hernando de Zafra, secretary to the Catholic Monarchs during Granada's Christian reconquest. The building stands as a testament to the transition period when Christian rule reshaped the city.
The palace now functions as an archaeological museum and reflects the connections between different populations that shaped Granada over millennia. The collections reveal stories of the people who inhabited this region, from early humans through the period after Christian conquest.
The museum is located along the Carrera del Darro and is easy to reach by walking through the neighborhood alongside the river. Visitors should expect longer lines on weekends, so arriving earlier in the day is recommended for a more comfortable visit.
The museum houses the Orce tooth, the oldest human remains discovered in Europe, dating back roughly 1.4 million years. This discovery shows that human ancestors inhabited this region long before the rise of known civilizations.
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