Alberca Courtyard

As in the case of the garden, the Patio de la Alberca was once part of the houses owned by the Counts of Torres Cabrera, which were acquired by Don Diego Rafael Cabrera y Fernández de Mesa, seventh Marquess of Villaseca and Count of Villanueva de Cárdenas.

Initially, this space was connected to the Patio del Pozo, and formed part of the Casa de Campo, the area where all the family’s rural properties were managed.

The area was known as the Patio de los Venados (Patio of the Deer) at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, as it housed numerous mounted deer heads—hunting trophies obtained by the marquess.

As is well known, Don José Saavedra y Salamanca, second Marquess of Viana, was a close friend of King Alfonso XIII, who visited the estate of Moratalla (Hornachuelos) on several occasions to hunt.

Layout and elements of the patio

The Patio de la Alberca is also known as the Greenhouse Patio, both elements giving it its name. A small row of cypress trees divides it into two sections: one providing access to the garden, and the other housing the pool and the greenhouse, which is ideally oriented for plants during the winter months.

However, the pool was not always located here, as it previously resided in the aforementioned Patio del Pozo. When the Palacio de Viana was opened to the public in the 1980s, the pool was relocated to its current spot, as its former location obstructed visitor circulation.

The pool receives water from the well and, once warmed by the sun, is used to irrigate the gardens and patios. It is decorated with numerous pots containing a variety of flowers, depending on the season, such as chrysanthemums, impatiens, etc.

The greenhouse and vegetation

The greenhouse was built in the 1960s with the goal of cultivating hybrid cineraria plants, which require considerable care, especially protection from the cold in winter. Today, this and many other species continue to be cultivated.

On the railings separating the patio from the garden, we find miniature rose bushes and lemon trees flanked by cypress trees. In this case, the hedges are not boxwood, as in many other patios, but spindle trees.

🌸 Blooming Calendar

Visit to the Patio de la Alberca

If you are wondering what to do in Córdoba, we recommend visiting the Palacio de Viana by booking one of our guided tours. There, we will dedicate a special section to the Patio de la Alberca. Choose to enjoy quality tourism with qualified personnel—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.