Bobadilla Palace

The Bobadilla Palace is one of the most monumental buildings in Villafranca. Its proportions and elegance make it an outstanding example of Baroque architecture in La Ribera.

It stands on Paseo Marqués de Vadillo, popularly known as El Atrio, a beautiful architectural corner formed beside the parish church of Santa Eufemia and the Convent of Nuestra Señora del Carmen. From this spacious viewpoint there is a magnificent view over the plain of the Aragón River, one of the most characteristic landscapes of the town.

It was built in the late 17th or early 18th century as a large, well-proportioned block of solid brick, with a marked horizontal emphasis, a feature that reflects the rank and social prestige of the family who lived there. The building has four facades, arranged in two levels and an attic: the lower level, with rectangular windows, may have been used for functional purposes such as grain stores, service rooms or spaces linked to the wine trade; the second level has lintelled balconies with period ironwork. The attic features semicircular arches, recessed pilasters and geometric motifs that recall the exterior of the parish church.

The west facade, the main one of the ensemble, stands out for its strict symmetry in the arrangement of openings and solid wall sections. The central axis is marked by the stone lintelled doorway, crowned by a balcony supported by three corbels. The composition is completed by a niche with small pilasters and a curved tympanum which, rather than housing a religious image, originally held the large coats of arms of the Martínez de Arizala family. In the attic, a gallery of semicircular arches and geometric decoration reinforces the monumental character of the building, clearly in tune with local Baroque architecture. As a whole, the facade offers a sober and monumental balance that impresses visitors.

Today the building is municipally owned and in recent years has undergone restoration in several phases, recovering roofs and rooms. Inside, now fully adapted, there is an attractive restored staircase and the classrooms of a training workshop that currently occupies the building.

The palace can be visited through guided tours booked in advance, a perfect opportunity to discover one of the great symbols of Baroque Villafranca up close.