From the Hall of the Signatures, to which we will come back later, we head for the largest room on the ground floor on Viana Palace, the so-called Hall of Tobías.

The walls are completely covered with fresco paintings, representing stories from the book of Tobías. This book, which belongs to the Old Testament, analyses the presence of God in family relationships, expressed in Archangel Saint Raphael accompanying Tobías, a young man full of faith in search for a wife. He finally marries her after overcoming great difficulties, with the help of the Angel sent by God (we must not forget he is the patron saint of Córdoba). The series of paintings consists of twelve compositions, such as the “Appearance of Saint Raphael before Tobías“, all of them from the 18th century and restored in the 19th century by León Abadía.

One of its big windows faces the beautiful and romantic Courtyard of the Madama; the other one, one of the angles of the garden. Located on the eastern side of Viana Palace, it is one of the halls receiving more natural light during the first hours in the morning. Back then, it was the main dining room in the house, and the place where the marquises held their most important receptions, such as the one organized in 1963, when they invited the highest authorities in the city for tea, thus celebrating the end of the reforms carried out in the palace.

In the centre of the Hall of Tobías, on an astonishing carpet from the Royal Tapestry Factory, we can see a great Spanish refectory table, with a one-piece oak board. This table was previously in the adjacent Gallery of the Arquebuses (which cannot be visited), since the hall was usually used for the celebration of events and meetings, as well as numerous classical music concerts. In the centre of the table, we can find an exquisite large fine porcelain earthenware jar with Imari decoration and bronze overlays. On marble plinths, two bronze lions escort this excellent piece. Over it, there is a luxuriant bronze lamp, with silver and golden candelabra.

The main seats in the Hall of Tobías are from Portugal, made in the 18th century, in leather which has become darker with time. However, they have embossings of high quality. Different torch standers and candlestick holders are distributed around tables and other pieces of furniture.

The hall is covered by a great light plaster vault, with a thick frieze decorated with garland and cornucopia, mouldings and pebbles, with a decorating hanging element for the lamp.

If you are wondering what to do in Córdoba, we recommend you visit Viana Palace hiring one of our guided tours. We will dedicate there a special chapter to the Hall of Tobías. Choose to do high quality sightseeing with qualified staff. Do not hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.