Palacio de Valdecarzana: The oldest civil building in Asturias

Located in the town of Avilés, the Palacio de Valdecarzana, also known as the Casa de las Baragañas, was built between the 14th and 15th centuries. It was constructed by a wealthy merchant from Avilés to serve as his private residence. The building features a lower area used in its early days for trading and storing products, as it possesses several pointed arches with dust guards arranged for that purpose.

The upper part of the residence is characterized by four twin windows arranged as a gallery, with a gutter decorated with sawteeth. It is the oldest civil building in Asturias and the only non-religious example of the Gothic style in the town. It is also the only example of bourgeois architecture present in the area.

Today, only the south facade of the original structure remains standing. It was completely secured and restored during the 20th century to convert the building into the Historical Archive of Avilés. According to a belief passed down through generations, King Pedro I the Cruel stayed in this palace in 1352 when he liberated the city from the troops of his half-brother, the insurgent Enrique de Trastámara.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons