The commonly called Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

: ''Palacio de los Duques de Medinaceli'') is a

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

palace located in

Cogolludo Cogolludo is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It forms part of the comarca of La Serranía and was the manorial home of the Dukes of Medinaceli. In 2015, it had a population of 600 inhabitants. Th ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, and is one of the most ancient sites of the region. One of the oldest titles of the House of Medinaceli is the

marquisate A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...

of Cogolludo, traditionally borne by the heir to the Dukedom of Medinaceli itself. The palace of the marquises of Cogolludo is a gem of pure

Spanish renaissance architecture Spanish Renaissance architecture was that style of Renaissance architecture in the last decades of the 15th century. Renaissance evolved firstly in Florence and then Rome and other parts of the Italian Peninsula as the result of Renaissance huma ...

, constructed between c. 1480 and 1502. It was a show of power for the House of Medinaceli, along with a display of wealth and and influence. It is one of a number of monuments most closely associated with the

Dukes of Medinaceli Duke of Medinaceli () is an hereditary title in the peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee. The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, created the title and awarded it on 31 October 1479 to ...

, and was their ducal palace. It was declared ''

Bien de Interés Cultural A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the heritage register in Spain. The term is also used in Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. The term literally means a "good of cultural interest" ("goods" in the economic sense) and inclu ...

'' (historical and architectural landmark) in 1931. The Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli was restored in 2012. Visitors are allowed into the interior of the building; but must do so with a tour guide managed by the tourist office.

History

The palace is considered the first Renaissance palace that was built on the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, defi ...

, and is a pioneer that broke previous typologies. It dates from the 15th century, when Cogolludo was occupied by the Valterra family, who moved in to the place in 1404. The Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli was commissioned by Luis de Cerda, the first duke in the powerful Medinaceli family, and it was designed by Lorenzo Vázquez de Segovia (c. 1450-c. 1517), an architect of the time who also was in charge of designing the Colegio de Sta. Cruz (c. 1483), and is widely considered Spain's first

architect.

References

{{Authority control Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Guadalajara Buildings and structures in the Province of Guadalajara Palaces in Castilla–La Mancha Renaissance architecture in Castilla–La Mancha