Palacio Bucarelli, Sevilla

Bucarelli Palace

By Fiona Flores Watson

 

Seville has its fair share of magnificent family-owned palaces – Casa de las Dueñas and Casa de Pilatos being two outstanding examples – with magnificent patios, priceless antiquities and delightful gardens.

In summer 2023, another such monument opened to the public for the first time: Palacio Bucarelli.

Where is it?

Located in the San Lorenzo area, in the north-west of the historic city centre, this magnificent 17^th-century baroque palace covers an entire city block – 3,600 square metres, between calles Santa Clara (where the main entrance is located), Dalia, Santa Ana, and Teodosio. Part of the palace has been converted into an apart-hotel (entrance on calle Dalia), also called Palacio Bucarelli, with tastefully decorated apartments. The palace is also known as the Palacio de los Condes de Santa Coloma.

What is the family history?

The family is closely linked to the Spanish Empire and trade with the New World. Antonio Bucarelli, a Florentine nobleman, moved to Seville in 1615 for his business trading spices and other valuables with the Indies. His grandson, Francisco Antonio Bucarelli Villasís, 1st Marquess of Vallehermoso, built the palace at the end of the 17^th century. Its architect, Pedro Romero, also built the Archbishop’s Palace and El Salvador church. The family has close links with San Lorenzo church nearby.

Francisco's grandson, in turn, Antonio Maria Bucarelli was Governor of Cuba and Viceroy of New Spain, and was involved in the founding of San Francisco port: his brother, Francisco de Paula Bucarelli, was Captain-General of Rio de la Plata (present-day Argentina) and Governor of Buenos Aires; further grandee descendants include the Viceroy of Peru and Lt-General of the Royal Armies. More recently, another successful family venture was the Santa Coloma stud farm, renowned for its bull breeding, while the racehorses won trophies.

The palace has been occupied by the Bucarellis and their successors, currently the Queralts (three siblings and their families, and their father, the Count of Santa Coloma), for 14 generations. This means that you’re visiting a family home, which is lived in, as opposed to a museum, complete with personal photos and momentoes.

What can I see on a visit to the palace?

Visitors are guided around the house in small groups, with a choice of ground floor visit only, or ground and first floor.

The general guided visit of 14 spaces and rooms includes the entrance courtyard, the stables, the chapel, main courtyard, the salons, the sculpture studio and equine-themed bar, the loggia and the gardens. The history of each stop, marked with a numbered panel, is explained on the audio guide.

On the complete visit (22 stops), you also go upstairs and see the gallery, drawing room, dining room, and a family bedroom, with beautiful works of art including exquisite painted ceramic jars from Mexico, family portraits, furniture, and tapestries.

According to family legend, the beautiful Countess of Santa Coloma was beloved by romantic poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, who lived nearby and would watch her on her balcony above the palace’s main entrance. His famous poem about swallows, “Volveran las oscuras golodrinas”, the dark swallows will return, is about the birds nesting in the palace’s eaves, which you can still see today.  This is the final stop on the complete tour.

The house and grounds - and their corresponding audio commentary - are full of delightful and fascinating details about the family and its long history. Famous visitors have included Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth, soprano Ainhoa Arteta, photographer Mario Testino, who did a shoot for Vogue in the palace, and artist Luis Gordillo.

OPENING HOURS

All visits are by guided tour only (unless otherwise specified).

APRIL TO OCTOBER

General visit (ground floor only)
Mon to Sat 9h - 13h

Complete visit (ground and upper floors)
Tues to Sat 9.15h and 11.15h

Groups
Tues to Sat 18.30h, 19h, 19.30h (minimum 10ppl, at least 48hr notice)

Free visit, no guided tour

Mon 17h - 21h (last entry 20h)

NOVEMBER TO MARCH

General visit (ground floor only)
Mon to Sat 10h - 14h

Complete visit (ground and upper floors)
Mon to Sat 10.15h and 12.15h

Groups
Tues to Sat 16.30h, 17h, 17.30h (Minimum 10 ppl, at least 48hr notice)

Free visit, no guided tour
Mon 16h - 20h (last entry 19h)

Closed 1, 6, 25 December

ENTRY PRICES

All visits include audio guide in English, French or Spanish

General visit (ground floor only)

Normal price: 12 euros
Reduced price (Children aged 6-16, unemployed, disabled, students, over-65s): 10 euros
Born or resident in Seville city: 9 euros
Under 6: free

Complete visit (ground and upper floors)

Normal price: 22 euros
Reduced price: 20 euros
Born or resident in Seville city: 19 euros
Groups: 20 euros

Contact:

Calle Santa Clara
[email protected]
Tel: 651 444 307