The Palacio de Viana attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year, and this is largely due to its lovely patios (popular in many Cordoba homes). There are actually fourteen total patios, and they are all quite splendid. Complementing the patios are gardens that also have little trouble impressing, and since the palace itself has been converted into a museum, visitors can step inside for a look if they please.

The Roman ruins in Cordoba, as is true throughout Spain, are relatively abundant in number. The Palacio de Viana, while not exactly a Roman ruin, is believed to have built on the site of a former Roman edifice, and there are archaeological finds to support this claim. As for the palace that visitors see today, it was originally built in the fourteenth century, with the ornate facade having been implemented later on in the sixteenth century.

Inside the Palace of Viana Cordoba, the decor in the rooms is very much what you might expect to find in a European palace. There are ornate accents found throughout, and extremely valuable furnishings and artwork adorn many rooms. Among the highlights of a tour is the opportunity to admire old tapestries and paintings, and most visits include a stop at the carriage house. In this part of the museum, vehicles from the past are on display, and there are also fascinating leather wall hangings to examine.

Cordoba Map

Cordoba's Palacio de Viana, which is not to be confused with the Palacio de Viana in Madrid, is found on the northeastern fringe of the city's Old Quarter. Just a mere four blocks away is one of the more renowned Cordoba plazas, the Plaza de Colon, which essentially puts the palace in the heart of town. From mid-June through September, the Palace of Viana Cordoba is open Monday through Saturday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. October through May, the hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturdays during this period, the hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The palace closes for a stint from June 1 to June 15.