Palacio Ducal de Medinaceli (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo DEARTE)

The Ducal Palace of Medinaceli is a palatial manor house located in the Plaza Mayor of Medinaceli, in the province of Soria, and today serves as the DEARTE Contemporary Art Center. It is a noble building of great patrimonial relevance, declared of Cultural Interest as a Monument in 1979. Its construction dates back to the 16th century according to a local heritage source, although other references date it to the 17th century and link it to the design of Juan Gómez de Mora; in any case, it responds to Renaissance architecture with Herrerian influence. The palace was the seat of the House of Medinaceli and has a quadrangular floor plan organized around a two-story central courtyard. Among its outstanding elements are the stone façade with the ducal coats of arms and the Renaissance courtyard, which preserves a remarkable architectural value. The building fell into disuse in the 19th century and reached a state of serious deterioration, until its restoration and cultural reopening at the end of the 20th century and in 2008 as an exhibition space. It currently houses contemporary art exhibitions and cultural activities promoted by the DEARTE Foundation, integrating a Roman mosaic found in the villa within the visitable route. Its exact location in Medinaceli makes it one of the main heritage resources of the municipality.