Episcopal Palace and its dungeons

The Episcopal Palace crowns the upper old town of Tarazona, above the former Jewish quarter, and looks out over the city and the River Queiles from its great gallery on brick arches. Inside, you can see the dungeons and stables on your own, and the noble quarters only with a guide.

What you will see

The palace stands on the old zuda, the city's Muslim castle. Bishop Pedro Pérez Calvillo bought it in 1386, after the earlier episcopal houses were razed in the War of the Two Peters, and the works were completed under Bishop Juan González de Munébrega (1547-1567), who unified the building around a central courtyard. Between 1549 and 1555 Juan de León the Elder and the brothers Juan and Melchor de León worked here, and the Italian Pietro Morone is credited with the dome over the grand staircase (1552), with medallions of Charles I and Prince Philip, and the Bishops' Hall.

That hall is the most striking part of the noble quarters: a great room with a 15th-century Mudéjar timber ceiling and, high on its walls, the gallery of portraits of the bishops of Tarazona, beginning with St Peter, St Prudentius and St Gaudiosus. The guided visit to the noble quarters also takes in the Renaissance rooms, the bishops' residence, the old secretary's office, the printing room and the strongroom. Downstairs, the dungeons of the old ecclesiastical prison preserve a remarkable set of graffiti left by the prisoners.

Opening hours and prices

The dungeons open on Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00; on Saturday from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 19:00; and from Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 13:00. The guided visit to the noble quarters and the dungeons lasts one hour: it leaves at 13:00 from Calle Rúa Alta, Tuesday to Sunday, and on Saturday there is another at 16:30 from Plaza de Palacio. Dungeons and stables: €3 (reduced €2); with the guided noble quarters, €5 (reduced €4). Under-12s do not pay. It closes on Mondays that are not public holidays and on the same special days as the cathedral.

The reduced rate applies to young people aged 12 to 18, over-65s, large and single-parent families and people with disabilities, and also if you buy several tickets to use within 48 hours. Tickets are sold in the online shop of the Fundación Tarazona Monumental or on 976 64 17 89.

Getting there

Walk up from Plaza de España through the streets of the old town and the Jewish quarter. There is no room for the car at the top. The palace fits into the walk through the Jewish quarter and the old bullring, and with the cathedral below, beside the river, you complete the day.