Huéscar – Palace House

This beautiful modernist house located in Paseo del Santo Cristo, is a peculiar and tremendously unique work, as it is framed within the purest and most refined Catalan modernism, in which Gaudí’s influence is evident in its exquisite organic-vegetable decoration of the facade, characteristic of the ornate taste of the Catalan architecture of the time. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it is known as the “Casa de los Penalva”.

It is a very important example of Andalusian modernism. Commissioned by Claudio Penalva, among others worked the Almerian artist Julián Ruiz Alemán, carver specialist in altarpieces, consoles, gates, new format windows and the artistic finishing of railings.

Distributed on three levels, it houses among its rooms different architectural styles, namely: Modernist façade in the Gaudí style. Central courtyard, main staircase and upper corridor, in Arabic style, imitating plasterwork, plinths and sconces (lamps and windows), with staircase and central fountain in white marble.

On the second floor are the great hall, the oratory and the sacristy, while the semi-basement houses the domestic quarters (woodshed, kitchen, garage and cellar). The Hall is in rococo style. The Chapel is neo-Gothic, with altar and furniture according to that style. The living room is modernist.

The house was acquired in its entirety by the City Council of Huéscar in May 2021, at which time work began on structural improvement and restoration. At present, work is still being carried out on the house, but it will soon be available for visits. It can also be converted into a spectacular filming location in the province of Granada.