Casa del Indiano (House of the American)

The next stop is a place which is not widely known by people from Córdoba, but whose name is probably familiar: the House of the American, also known as House of the Ceas, as it belonged for many years to this family, who were great characters in the politics of the city from the first years after the reconquest.

It is located in Ángel de Torres Square, in the heart of the historical centre, a few metres away from the Jewish Quarter. The name the building has received comes from one of the owners of the house, Juan Cosme Paniagua, who lived in America for many years, and after coming back, he was nicknamed “Indiano” (the American), thus naming the house as well.

Unfortunately, we do not know the arrangement of the inside of the House of the American, as only the outside 15th-century façade is preserved, which represents one of the most important examples of Mudejar civil architecture in the city. Nowadays, the entrance leads to the so-called “Calleja del Indiano” (Alley of the American), a narrow street where we can see several modern houses on both sides.

The façade of the House of the American has only four openings, of which we can highlight the entrance, which is curiously moved towards one side, thus losing some relevance within the ensemble. Some mention a lintel, other a lintelled arch, but the truth is that there is a clear distinction of the voussoirs, decorated with the typical Mudejar interwoven shapes and motifs of sebka. Flanked by this distinction of voussoirs, and also on the jambs of the opening, we can see up to four small blinded windows decorated with polylobed arches. The ensemble is finished and also flanked by three narrow and simple bars decorated with geommetrical motifs.

On the left of the entrance, also on the ground floor, there a geminated window covered by small polylobed arches interwoven among them, thus creating blind openings framed by fine mouldings. The arches are supported by small plain columns with Corinthian base and capital. The opening is framed by plaques decorated with geommetrical elements and, once more, motifs of sebka.

On the second floor, and in line with the two openings mentioned before, there are two more windows of similar characteristics, but in this case, the Mudejar decoration is substituted by a Gothic style. There are two geminated windows, where a balustrade works as a base for the small column supporting two round arches, also decorated with small round arches. Among the decorating small columns, there is a decoration based on vegetable and flowery motifs.

Ramírez de Arellano points out the possibility that these small decorating columns on the windows of the second floor could have been originally crowned by pinnacles, which disappeared when Mateo Inurria restored the building at the beginning of the last century.

If you wish to know the House of the American do not hesitate to hire one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of the historical heritage from Córdoba. If you have chosen to do sightseeing in Córdoba, choose a high quality option, choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.