Pazo of the Counts of Maceda

It is located in Barón street, in the heart of the old town of Pontevedra, close to the medieval Burgo Bridge.

The building has its origin in a Roman villa. In the 16th century, the building was transformed into a Renaissance pazo.{{Cite web|date=6 September 2019|title=El resurgir de Pontevedra|url=https://viajes.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/resurgir-pontevedra_14566/1|website=National Geographic|language=es}} In the 18th century, the building was completely refurbished by the architect Pedro de Monteagudo{{Cite web|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/pontevedra/2012/10/29/carcel-vieja-pontevedra-calle-galera-17595790.html|title=La cárcel vieja de Pontevedra, en la calle Galera| website=Faro|date=29 October 2012|lang=es}} and it became the property of the illustrious Counts of Maceda. Later, the property was passed on to the Marquis of Figueroa and Atalaya (also a count of Maceda) who filled it with antiques.

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 07.JPG

In the 19th century, the palace went into decline, and its uninhabited rooms were used as a sea salt warehouse and a school for poor children. It is even said that the building became a Masonic lodge. Later, it was transformed into a place where dozens of families lived. The Baron of Casa Goda, Eduardo de Vera y Navarro, put an end to this decadence, recovering its possessions and restoring much of its former splendour.{{Cite web|date=21 October 2009|title=La Casa del Barón se abre al arte|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2009/10/21/casa-baron-abre-arte/0003_8050315.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} This is why the Parador de Turismo de Pontevedra is called Casa del Barón.

In the 20th century, the first floor of the palace became the headquarters of the Graduada Álvarez Limeses School and the second floor was used as a house,{{Cite web|date=28 November 2009|title="Espero no morirme sin ver la ría libre de las industrias contaminantes"|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2009/11/28/espero-morirme-ver-ria-libre-industrias-contaminantes/0003_8136443.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} being the family residence of the directors of this school until 1950, when the Pontevedra City Council became the owner.{{Cite web|date=18 January 2005|title="Vivir en lo que hoy es el Parador era un cuento de hadas"|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2005/01/18/vivir-hoy-parador-era-cuento-hadas/0003_3381280.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

The building was refurbished as a luxury hotel managed by the Spanish State, becoming on 15 January 1955 the first National Parador of Turism in Galicia.{{Cite web|date=24 January 1955|title=Nuevo Parador Nacional la "Casa del Barón" una realización de la Dirección General de Turismo en Pontevedra Galicia|url=https://www.rtve.es/filmoteca/no-do/not-629/1485780|website=RTVE|language=es}} In 1974 the hotel underwent its first extension and in 2002 a major upgrade worth 2.34 million euros was carried out.{{Cite web|date=26 May 2022|title=Luz verde a la reforma del Parador de Pontevedra|url=https://www.diariodepontevedra.es/articulo/pontevedra/luz-verde-reforma-parador-pontevedra/202205261258071202572.html|website=Diario de Pontevedra|language=es}}

File:Pontevedra capital Palacio de los Condes de Maceda, portada.jpg

The pazo stands out for its imposing dimensions and stately ornamentation.{{Cite web|date=28 January 2021|title=Los 11 edificios que reconoces si eres de Pontevedra|url=https://www.elespanol.com/treintayseis/articulos/actualidad/los-11-edificios-que-reconoces-si-eres-de-pontevedra|website=El Español|language=es}}

On the outside, there is a neoclassical portico at the entrance to the building. The façade of the building, covered with a frieze of oval shapes, is decorated with coats of arms and is topped by a colonnade of four granite columns.{{Cite web|date=1 June 2010|title=La Casa del Barón|url=http://viajes.elmundo.es/especiales/2009/03/paradores/2009/03/30/seccion_11/1238424034.html|website=El Mundo|language=es}} The palace has a crenellated tower added in the 18th century and a stone terrace. It also has a courtyard (originally designed for horses) and a garden.

Inside, there is large stone staircase, a Galician stone fireplace, and other baroque features. There are numerous drawing rooms. The building is decorated with antiques, tapestries, antique paintings, and classical and royal furniture.{{fact|date=May 2022}}

The palace is now the Parador de Pontevedra, a 47-room luxury hotel. It is one of the four most popular paradors in Galicia. In 2019, its average annual occupancy rate was 72.75%, only behind the parador of Santiago de Compostela, the Hospital of the Catholic Monarchs.{{Cite web|date=3 February 2020|title=Pontevedra, entre los cuatro paradores gallegos más solicitados|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2020/02/03/pontevedra-tres-paradores-gallegos-solicitados/000315807209539041952|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=8 December 2018|title=Cifras de oro para el parador de Pontevedra|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2018/12/08/cifras-oro-parador-pontevedra/0003_201812P8C1997.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

King Felipe VI, the reigning king of Spain, used to spend the night here during his stay at the Spanish Naval Academy.{{Cite web|date=26 December 2017|title=Las felicitaciones navideñas especiales|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2017/12/26/felicitaciones-navidenas-especiales/0003_201712P26C7992.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 06.JPG|Façade

File:Parador de Pontevedra 1.jpg|Main facade from the stone terrace of the building

File:Parador de Pontevedra 3.jpg|Partial view of the gardens

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 16.JPG|Gardens

File:Pontevedra capital Parador Torre Almenada del Palacio Renacentista Casa del Barón.jpg|18th century crenellated tower

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 05.JPG|Courtyard and small car park

File:Pontevedra capital Parador casa del Barón de casa Goda.jpg|View of the entrance gate

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 17.JPG|Interior

File:|Coat of arms of the Palace

File:Pontevedra capital Lateral del Pazo de los Condes de Maceda (Parador de Turismo).jpg|Side of the Pazo Casa del Barón

File:Pontevedra-Parador Casa del barón (6225285983).jpg|Parador plate

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 08.JPG|Portico from the inside

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 12.JPG|Parador gardens

File:Pontevedra - Parador Nacional Casa del Barón (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda) 11.JPG|Pond

File:Parador Nacional de Turismo de Pontevedra. Escalera (14056986499).jpg|Internal staircase

File:Parador de Pontevedra 2.jpg|Gardens

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Parador de Pontevedra (Palacio de los Condes de Maceda o Casa del Barón)}}

• {{Cite book|last=Aganzo|first=Carlos|title=Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto|publisher=El País-Aguilar|year=2010|isbn=978-8403509344|location=Madrid|pages=81–82|language=es}}
• {{Cite book|last=Fontoira Surís|first=Rafael|title=Pontevedra monumental|publisher=Diputación Provincial de Pontevedra|year=2009|isbn=978-84-8457-327-2|location=Pontevedra|page=291|language=es}}
• {{Cite book|last=Riveiro Tobío|first=Elvira|title=Descubrir Pontevedra|publisher=Edicións do Cumio|year=2008|isbn=9788482890852|location=Pontevedra|page=25|language=es}}

• Building of the Official Association of Building Engineers and Technical Architects of Pontevedra

• [https://www.visit-pontevedra.com/es/que-ver/imprescindibles/casa-del-baron-parador-de-pontevedra Casa del Barón]
• [http://www.parador.es/es/paradores/parador-de-pontevedra Spain Paradors – Casa del Barón]

{{Paradores}}

{{Pontevedra landmarks}}

{{Subject bar|portal1=architecture|portal2= Spain}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pazo Counts Maceda}}

Category:Paradores

Category:Baroque architecture in Spain

Category:Renaissance architecture in Spain

Category:Renaissance palaces

Category:Buildings and structures in Pontevedra

Category:Baroque architecture in Galicia (Spain)

Category:Renaissance architecture in Galicia (Spain)

Category:Buildings and structures in the Province of Pontevedra

Category:Palaces in Galicia (Spain)

Category:Tourist attractions in Galicia (Spain)