The Lerma Ducal Palace

The Lerma Ducal Palace stands in Lerma, Burgos, Spain, occupying one side of the city's Plaza. Commissioned by Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma, construction began in 1601. The palace is considered a masterwork by its architect, Francisco de Mora, and stands as one of the finest buildings of the era.

The palace features a striking façade with a large walnut door decorated with 520 bronze nails. Above the door are two of the duke's coat-of-arms, decorated with laurel, while the railings of the windows and balconies are painted in blue and gold. The interior patio features round arches and columns made of single pieces of granite from quarries owned by the duke. On the upper level, the columns support a running frieze with iron balconies and windows originally made from walnut wood.

Four towers stand at the corners of the palace, with their spires recovered after restoration works. While no palace could have more than two towers except those belonging to kings, the Duke of Lerma was granted this privilege due to his great powers in Court. Once home to immense gardens and fountains, the site later served as a Francoist concentration camp before its current use as a parador.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons