Sunday 2 March 2014

Riquelme palace

Riquelme palace


The Riquelme palace is a 16th century monument which is renaissance style. It is located in the city centre, in Plaza del Mercado next to the Archaeological Museum and the San Mateo Church.
The building was paid by the Riquelme family during the medieval age with the aim of show to other noble families their power. The building was built in the main square of Jerez after the city conquest and was designed in a modern style in comparison with the medieval architecture that existed in Jerez.
Currently, the palace is in rehabilitation process. The palace was the main civil building when was built.
The facade was built in 1542 by Fernando Álvarez and shows a big exterior front. It has two floors according with the palaces style of the 15th century.
The main door has a sculptural ornamentation with allusions to the classical mythology and some symbols. It has to highlight the two reliefs of Hercules, below of these, it is represented to the left to Hercules fighting against the Nemea Lion and, on the right, the Ueyanira kidnapping by the Neso centaur.
The decoration is completed with a central frieze in which are appeared a bust, the heraldic shield of the family and four medallions which correspond to the emperor Constantine, the twins Romulus and Remus, the king Nebuchadnezzar and Queen Camilla of the Aeneid.
It highlights also, the columns of the exterior angles of the building which have Renaissance Corinthian capitals which influence is due to the Genoese traders that came to Jerez.



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