EPISCOPAL PALACE

In Cardenal Belluga square, the Episcopal Palace rises up next to the majestic imafront of the cathedral. It is said that bishop Mateo decided he wanted a residence from which he could contemplate the newly finished facade of the cathedral, leading to the construction of his square palace.

With very particular architectural elements, it is another of the high points of the 18th century in Murcia. Several expert stone masons from other cathedrals collaborated in its construction.

It is made up of two joined buildings:

The so called Martillo (hammer) of the palace (the bishop's viewpoint): a part of the building which towers above the rest, built before the construction of the main building had begun, to provide a viewpoint over the river Segura and el Paseo del Arenal, or Glorieta.

The main body or palace: clearly influenced by recent Italian Manierism, it is therefore related to Roman palaces.

The balcony doors of the facade are architectural solutions which have their origin in those conceived by Michelangelo for the Farnese Palace, Rome, in 1546. The wall treatments, which consist of ornamental frescos, are another characteristic of Roman and Neapolitan palaces.

Inside, the imperial staircase is of great interest and it follows the most characteristic ideas of the Roman Baroque style. It consists of the patio, organised in three Dorian arcades and an upper, more compact part and the small, circular bishop's chapel.

The shield, which presides over the main balcony of the palace, commemorates Bishop Roja, under whose term of office the work was finished in 1786.

The building of the palace in the mid 18th century, together with other buildings and public works, stresses the importance of the urban changes which took place in Murcia during that century.


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palacio_episcopal/palacio.htm