The Palace of the Conde de Valdeparaíso is owned by the Diputation of Ciudad Real, which is in charge for its restoration in 1992. Since the beginning, this building was used for educational and cultural purposes. At present, the Valdeparaíso Palace hosts a variety of functions between notable, that of being the seat of the offices of the Almagro Festival and the activity center with exhibits, conferences, courses, workshops and press conferences.
In 1705, Don Juan Francisco Gaona y Portocarrero married Doña Maria Arias de Porres Rozas y Treviño, Duchess of Anavete. He was subsequently named first Count of Valdeparaíso by Felipe the V.
The palace in Almagro was an already-existing structure which it was renovated at the end of the 17th century as we can read in the façade AÑO DE 1699.
The palace was renovated once more in the 18th century by Don Francisco Gaona y Portocarrero, Count of Valdeparaíso and Minister of Treasury to Fernando VI. An architect was appointed by the Court to perform the renovations and instructed to follow the model of the palaces of Madrid, which were square in plan and had two towers.
The palace is located on one of the most important streets in Almagro. There was at one point in time an ancient hospital across the street, but the Count of Valdeparaíso had it torn down to improve the view from his palace.
The façade of the palace is flanked by two towers. In the center of the façade is the entryway, whose sides situate the principal hallways on the interior of the palace. The centered entryway also situates the windows on the bottom floor and the balconies on the top floor. Each of the towers is topped by four tiled spires with balls on top.
The entryway is the most interesting aspect of the palace. It is constructed in two parts, an upper and a lower. The lower part is decorated with garlands; its cornice bears an ornate leaf. The upper part of the entryway is formed by a balcony which is decorated by intricate vegetative moldings and carvings and also the anagrams of Jesus and Mary. The balcony is marked by an elaborate cornice which bears an enormous flower. On the flower are inscribed the name Jose, the date, and a semicircular shell. On either side of the cornice are the coats of arms of the Roza, Maldonado, Bustamente, Trevino, Arias, Mieses, and Sagramena families. The crown of the Marquis is also displayed. Finally, on the extremes of the entryway are stone-carved vases, overflowing with grapes and other fruits. This composition, as a whole, sanctifies the building. It confirms the power of nobility and also the close relationship between royalty and the divine.
The interior of the palace is designed along a central axle, which manifests itself as a hallway, patio, and corral. There is a chapel and an antechapel, both are domed. In the left-most tower there is an interesting decoration of vegetables and coats of arms painted on the underside of the dome.
The patio is square. It is surrounded on all four sides by Tuscan columns with the cross of Calatrava etched onto the bases. The columns support a gallery, which is formed by straight bases and a balustrade. The gallery was closed off in the 19th century and the walls were decorated with paintings in the stylistic tradition of Goya.
The palace, imitating the style of the houses of the court, contains a wooden posterior gallery on stone columns. The gallery opens into a garden, where the service rooms and the living quarters of the grounds workers were located.