The Episcopal Palace

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Religious architecture · Authors: Manuel Ponce de León y Falcón

The first episcopal palace was founded over some houses left by Bishop Frías, rebuilt during the 17th century and then extended through the 19th century. This large building has a façade overlooking the main square, with a large back garden partly taken up today with outbuildings. It is rectagular in shape with a sloping outer profile. It has three arcaded courtyards that define three functional areas, with their surrounding rooms. The façade at Santa Ana has a 21st century Plateresque entrance featuring an alfiz over two Gothic corbels, also with a trellised canopy balcony in the corner overlooking calle Obispo Codina and facing the cathedral. Simple stone gapwork line it on two levels, and the ballustrade completes its composition.

The back façade was designed by Manuel de León y Falcón (1867), with an academic-classist symmetry which replaced the out appearance of the three uneven little houses, featuring a central section made from quarry stone, and four capitel pillasters. The lintels in the recessed spaces have a distinctly romantic décor. Unfortunately, the garden was mistakenly closed off from the street with materials from the cathedral's choir area.

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