Go on a free guided tour of San Telmo Palace, a 17th-century baroque masterpiece that covers an entire city block. This vast building of red and dark yellow façades was formerly a marine training academy and the home of a duke. It’s now the seat of the president of the regional government.
Before entering the palace spend a few moments examining the impressive exterior, especially the ornate main entrance, which took more than 70 years to complete. It is an example of an elaborate Spanish baroque style known as churrigueresque and features a statue of San Telmo holding a boat and navigational charts. The figure is flanked by sculptures of two of Seville’s patron saints, San Fernando and San Hermenegildo.
Look up at the statues of illustrious Sevillian citizens on the side of the palace that sits on Calle Palos de la Frontera. Among them are Lope de Rueda, a 16th-century playwright and Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th-century social reformer who wanted to abolish slavery.
Enter the building and go to the Room of Mirrors, a former ballroom now used to host receptions. Its highlights are the extravagantly painted ceiling and a long wall of arched windows that look out onto the gardens.
Explore the early 18th-century baroque chapel for its extensive collection of religious art including 18th- and 19th-century canvases and wall paintings, 18th-century altarpieces and polychrome wood sculptures that date back to the 16th century. Other highlights of the palace include the Patio of San Jeronimo and a beautiful tiled staircase.
San Telmo Palace is a short walk from Seville’s historical center and close to several bus and tram stops. Limited street parking is available nearby for a fee. Guided tours of this 17th-century palace last for about 90 minutes, are conducted in Spanish and by prior appointment only. To make a booking go to the official website of the regional government, the Junta de Andalusia.
