The Palace of Count Gondomar, now known as Casa del Sol, is a palace in Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain. Acquired by the state in 1999 to expand the National Museum of Sculpture, it has since been rehabilitated to incorporate the old San Benito el Viejo church. Constructed in 1540 for Sancho Díaz de Leguízamon, its stone sillería facade is shielded by iron bars, marked by a semi-circular arch supported by four pairs of Corinthian columns and a balcony.
Two towers flank the facade, lending a castle-like appearance. In 1599, the Count of Gondomar acquired the palace for his extensive library, once among the largest in the kingdom. The books were eventually sold to Carlos IV in 1806 and are partially conserved in the National Library of Spain. Despite its opulent decor, the palace was not designed for guests but rather serves as a sanctuary for study and solitude, home to thousands of books that used to belong to Don Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, the Count of Gondomar.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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