The Italianate Style of Torre del Infantado

The Torre del Infantado is a fortification located in the Cantabrian town of Potes, at the foot of the Picos de Europa. Attributed to the de la Lama family, it was built in the 14th century and belonged to Tello, Lord of Liébana. From the 16th century, it became the ancestral home of Íñigo López de Mendoza, Marquis of Santillana, and his descendants before eventually passing to the Dukes of Osuna, who sold it in 1868.

The building is constructed primarily of sillarejo, reinforced with sillería on the corners and openings. It consists of four bodies and a roof with a cornice supporting a continuous barbican. A notable feature is the central patio, which illuminates the interior rooms. This detail is unusual for Cantabrian fortresses and is associated with a 16th-century renovation by the Dukes of Infantado, who applied an Italianate style typical of the Castilian palaces of that era.

Following a long restoration process, the six-story building opened to the public in March 2011. It currently serves as an exhibition center featuring a permanent display on the life and work of the 8th-century monk Beato de Liébana, including a reproduction of a scriptorium. Visitors can also access a crenelated viewpoint that offers a wide panoramic view of the town of Potes and the Liébana Valley. The building has been designated a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1985.

Sources: https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/cultura/patrimonio/bienes-culturales-protegidos.html

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons