Villapanés Palace

Villapanés palace

This palace represents to the civil architecture of the 18th century. It was built by the Panés family that had Genoese origin.

The palace construction was started by Petronila Pavón, Villapanés Marquis's wife, and was finished by Miguel María Panés González de Quijano. The monument has two houses, the most ancient has its facade in the Empedrada street and it is known as "the big house"; the other one, known as "small house" has its facade in the Cerro Fuerte and Cruz Viejas streets.

The big house highlighted by its simple and elegant features, having a three floor facade in which highlights a rectilinear balcony. Inside highlights the arcaded courtyard red marble and the elegant red marble staircase which is surrounded by frescoes painted on the walls and a decorated dome.

The construction of the small house begun in 1766, with the aim to balance the house with the new facade and also, create a monumental facade to the Cruz Vieja street. It is repeated the same elements and decorative materials of the big house, highlighting the two corners. On the left, it is located the Archangel St. Michael and on the right, the Archangel St. Raphael.

The palace had a very important library. Miguel María Panés González de Quijano, marquis of Villapanés , was a cult and illustrated man, also, was member and the first president of the Economic Society of Friends of the Country in Jerez, being the first headquarters this palace.

The marquis had in this palace one of the best libraries of Andalusia, which was opened to the public. The library disappeared in a shipwreck when it was travelling to Genoa.