We head for the Hall of the Wooden Ceiling, but first we need to go through a gallery where there are some paintings that deserve mentioning, the Gallery of the Hall of the Wooden Ceiling. Some of the works are two big canvases representing the battles of “Galoo and Verrebroek” and “Nordlingen“, the other four ones completing the collection are in the Gallery of the Battles.

On the left side of the gallery, we can see a portrait representing “Fernando VII“, by Vicente López, as well as a board about the “Crucifixion of Christ on Mount Calvary“, attributed to the school of Antonie Van Dyck. At the front, there are three tapestries hanging from the House of Salamanca form the 17th century, and on a small table, an Italian counter made in ebony, bronze and tortoiseshell from the 18th century, one of the most interesting pieces in Viana Palace.

We can already enter the Hall of the Wooden Ceiling, one of the richest and most interesting rooms in the palace. It is named after the Mudejar wooden ceiling covering it, characterized by its complete plainness, but yet, full of beauty. It has been written on several occasions that it imitates a boat hull upside down.

One of its most popular canvases is the one representing “A Lady“, by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, from Valladolid, one of the best representatives of the Spanish painting in the 16th century. The mentioned lady has been identified as Isabel de Valois, although not all historians support this idea. We should also mention two portraits by Bartolomé González, such as “Cardinal Infante Don Fernando” or his sister “Doña María de Austria“. To finish this small art gallery, we can mention works such as “Saint Catherine” by Federico Baroccio de Urbino or a “Madonna” by Giovanni Battista Salvi, Il Sassoferrato, among others.

From the walls of the Hall of the Wooden Ceiling four Flemish tapestries hang. Three of them belong to the series “Precedents of the Trojan War” from the 16th century, and they represent “Paris’s Trial“, “The Introduction of Helena to Priamus“, “Paris justifies his behavious before the court of Priamus“. The remaining tapestry belongs to the series “Cirus’s story” and represents “Tomiris’s Revenge“. The three first ones are located on the left wall, and they are separated by free-standing Solomon columns, with vegetable and zoomorphic decoration.

The furniture of the hall is very abundant, and we can highlight two Knole-style sofas, a board-table decorated with tortoiseshell and incrustations of silver thread and ivory, Renaissance foldable armchairs, Louis XIV-style armchairs with Gobelin upholstery from the 17th century, a collection of auxiliary Baroque tables from the 17th-18th centuries… The floor is covered by a great 17th-century carpet made in Cuenca, similar to the one located in the Main Dining Room.

If you wish to know the Hall of the Wooden Ceiling of Viana Palace, 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.