Casa de Pilatos

Casa de Pilatos is the finest private palace in Seville and still the residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli, whose foundation opens it to visitors. Building began in 1483 under Pedro Enríquez and Catalina de Ribera and was completed by their son Fadrique, first Marquis of Tarifa. After a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1519, Fadrique began a Way of the Cross from the house's chapel, and over time the palace became popularly linked to the house of Pontius Pilate, which is where the name comes from.

The house is often described as the prototype of the Andalusian palace, combining Mudéjar plasterwork and ceilings, Gothic details and Italian Renaissance marble. You enter through a marble gateway from 1529 into the main courtyard, with its central fountain and a ring of busts of Roman emperors and other figures, some brought from the Roman city of Italica. The real stars, though, are the tiles: around 150 different designs made in the 1530s by the brothers Diego and Juan Pulido, covering walls, doorways and the great staircase, which also has a carved honeycomb ceiling.

Beyond the courtyard are a series of halls, a chapel blending Gothic and Mudéjar styles, and two gardens with fountains, loggias and classical statues. The upper floor, where the family lives part of the time, is shown separately on a short guided visit and holds paintings from the 16th to 19th centuries, including works by Goya and Luca Giordano, and a ceiling painted by Francisco Pacheco. The palace has served as a set for several films.

It is much quieter than the Alcázar and makes an excellent second palace for anyone who loved the tilework there. The main floor ticket includes an audio guide in several languages, and the upper floor costs extra. Children up to 11 enter free with an adult. Allow about an hour for the ground floor and gardens and a little longer if you add the upstairs tour. The palace opens every day, but upper floor tours run at set times, so ask at the ticket office on arrival.

The house is on the Plaza de Pilatos at the eastern edge of the old town, about 10 to 15 minutes' walk from the Cathedral through the San Bartolomé and Santa Cruz quarters. The Plaza de San Leandro and its convent, known for the yemas sweets sold by the nuns, is next door.