Exit Staircase of the Palace of Viana
We head towards the Exit Staircase, bidding farewell to the Viana Palace. To do so, we must pass through a small hallway that, interestingly, is decorated with a richly carved 16th-century Plateresque choir stall, and a friar-style cabinet with simple marquetry work. Its walls feature three works by Cavalier D’Arpino: “Moses Bringing Water from the Rock at Horeb” and “The Rape of the Sabine Women“.
Access and Origin of the Dome
Once we have crossed the aforementioned hallway, we descend some stairs that lead us to the Patio de la Cancela, to finally leave the premises. Curiously, the staircase is covered by an exceptional dome that was not always there, as it was brought in 1918 after news broke that the Tejeiro Palace in Cabra was being demolished, and therefore the dome was at serious risk of disappearing.
The dome was dismantled with chisels and transported to the Viana Palace, and since then it has been admired by visitors. Its authorship has been speculated upon several times, but the truth is that the creator of the work is still not definitively known. However, it is believed to have been designed by Francisco Javier Pedrajas, based on its stylistic features and the area of influence (Cabra and Priego de Córdoba), and it was certainly executed around the last years of the 18th century.
Artistic and Structural Description
Structurally, it is a ribbed dome resting on pendentives, decorated with vegetal elements and rocaille, also displaying the coats of arms of the four family surnames: Fernández Valenzuela, Andrade, and Jurado.
At the highest point of the dome is the characteristic floral ornament, from which hangs the octagonal lamp that lights the room, and from which the twelve ribs radiate, dividing the dome into six parts. The spaces above the pendentives feature scallop shells upon which eagles rest; in the remaining sections, the same scheme is repeated but without the eagles and with less vegetation.
Cultural Visit
If you wish to see the Exit Staircase of the Viana Palace, don’t hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you’ve chosen to do tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option, choose ArtenCórdoba.
Text: J.A.S.C.
In the hallway leading to the Exit Staircase, there is a choir stall from the 16th century with rich plateresque carving, a simple marquetry bargueño, and three works by Cavalier D'Arpino, including 'Moses bringing forth water from the rock of Horeb' and 'The Abduction of the Sabine Women.'
The dome covering the Exit Staircase was transferred to the Palacio de Viana in 1918, after being dismantled from a building in Cabra that was being demolished. It is believed that its design could be the work of Francisco Javier Pedrajas, although its authorship remains uncertain.
The dome over the Exit Staircase is coffered on pendentives decorated with vegetal elements and rocaille. At its highest point, there is a finial with an octagonal lamp, and the dome is divided into six parts by twelve ribs. In the pendentives, shells and eagles can be seen.
The dome of the Exit Staircase is adorned with the crests of the four surnames of the family: Fernández Valenzuela, Andrade, and Jurado, which are integrated into the decoration of the structure.
To learn more about the Exit Staircase of the Palacio de Viana, it is recommended to hire a guided tour with ArtenCórdoba, experts in the interpretation of the city's historical heritage.
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