Palace of the Dukes of Alba facts for kids
The Palace of the Dukes of Alba (called Palacio de los duques de Alba in Spanish) is a grand palace in Piedrahita, a town in the province of Ávila, Spain. It was built between 1755 and 1766 by an architect named Jaime Marquet. The palace was designed to be a summer home for the important Dukes of Alba family. Today, it is used as a school.
History of the Palace
The Palace of the Dukes of Alba stands where an old medieval castle once was. The French architect Jaime Marquet built this new palace for Fernando de Silva, who was the 12th Duke of Alba. Construction took place from 1755 to 1766. The duke used this beautiful building as his summer getaway.
Later, his granddaughter, María Cayetana de Silva (the 13th Duchess of Alba), invited many famous people to the palace. One of the most well-known guests was the famous painter Francisco Goya.
The palace faced some tough times during wars. It was damaged during the Napoleonic wars and later during the Spanish Civil War. The inside of the palace was burned and looted, meaning things were stolen. However, the outside of the building remained mostly the same.
In 1931, the local government of Piedrahita bought the palace. It was officially recognized as an important monument in 1993. Today, part of the palace is a school, and its lovely gardens are open to the public as a park.
Palace Architecture and Design
The Palace of the Dukes of Alba was built in a style called neoclassical. This means it uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, but with a new, fresh look. The design was inspired by famous French palaces, like the amazing Palace of Versailles.
The 12th Duke of Alba knew a lot about French architecture. He had been Spain's ambassador in France during the 1750s. This experience helped him choose the perfect style for his new summer home. Next to the palace, there was also a beautiful garden designed in the French style, with neat paths and carefully shaped plants.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de los duques de Alba para niños
