The palace that served as the seat of the Inquisition

The Palacio de Benacazón on Calle de Recoletos stands as one of the most representative examples of Toledo's domestic architecture. Its courtyard is a centerpiece of Mudéjar style, where the decoration of plasterwork and azulejos remains a primary draw despite numerous restorations over the centuries.

The building likely dates back to the time of Peter of Castile the Cruel. It once served as the seat of the Holy Office, the Inquisition. For centuries, it functioned as a manor house for the Pantoja and Gaytán families, and from the 16th century it was known locally as the Palacio de los Pantoja.

Ownership shifted in the 20th century. Between 1920 and 1940, the last descendant of the lineage, Anastasio Páramo Barranco, adopted the name Anastasio Páramo y Pantoja Cepeda and the title of Count of Benacazón. The building moved away from aristocratic use, serving as a medical consultation center in the 1960s.

Today, it serves as the headquarters of the Caja Castilla-La Mancha Foundation. It has been repurposed into a cultural center where stage arts are performed for the public.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons