The mannerist altarpiece of Juan de Villoldo in the Palacio de Saldañuela

The Palacio de Saldañuela is a Renaissance manor house located in the municipality of Sarracín, in the province of Burgos. Although the primary palace rose in 1562 from Hontoria limestone, it sits against a much older tower of the 15th century. This estate was acquired by Isabel Osorio, a relative of Pablo de Santa María, who purchased the lordship and the tower from the Consejo de Hacienda.

One should observe how the layout centers on a courtyard defined by three porticoes with escarzan arches. In one corner, the Fuente de las Gracias features water pouring from three women supported by an atlas. The facade offers a logia with Corinthian capitals alongside a plateresque window with a wrought iron balcony. Inside, the chapel protects a mannerist altarpiece by Juan de Villoldo within a larger collection of paintings.

We can trace the building's many lives through the centuries. A fire in 1788 triggered a period of decay before the property became a farm and country house during the early 20th century. By 1951, the Caja de Burgos took ownership and restored the palace in 1953, adding a new body that does not affect the original structure. In the following years, it was dedicated to an Escuela de Capacitación Agraria.

In the present day, the Fundación Caja de Burgos maintains the site. Following a remodeling by architect Pablo Puente Aparicio in the 90s of the last century, the structure preserves its history and houses the painting collection of Caja de Burgos.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons