The results of his Renaissance 'Changing Rooms'-style makeover is stunning (I suspect he spent a bit more than they do on that TV show). You entered via a marble lined gate house into an outer patio and can then pass through into the centrepiece of the house. The Italian renaissance influence is clear with the open balconies lining a wide central patio. A marble fountain and statues of Roman gods decorate this space, continuing the Italian theme.

One then notices the distinctly Mudejar flourishes around the stone work giving the courtyard its more typically Moorish appearance. Brightly coloured tiles line the walls adding to the feeling of opulence and grandeur that this space has. Any one visiting this Marquis knew they were in the home of someone who appreciated the finer things –- it is a wonderful and impressive space that I think is more than a match for the more visited Alcazar.

Within the well tended gardens you will stumble across more Roman souvenirs of the Marquis’s holidays nestling amongst orange groves. For a few euros more you can also have a guided tour of the upstairs rooms -– but a better grasp of Spanish than ours would have been required to enjoy this.

Even without the extra tour this should be on your list of ‘must-sees’. The tile work, ornate stone and woodcarving, the way that two distinct styles have been so appropriately combined. It is little surprise that Casa de Pilatos has had a large influence on subsequent building in this region.

The upstairs part of this amazing home is inhabited by the decendents of the Marquess (the Dukes of Medinaceli), who have decided to open parts of their home to the general public. Anyone can tour the many beautiful rooms and galleries for a very small fee. It runs about four dollars for a partial tour and about six for a complete one.

Every single object in this lovely palace was undoubtedly priceless. The family even has a preservation staff on hand to keep these treasures in excellent shape. They were kind enough to let me take a picture of their important work in progress!

During the private part of the tour in the upstairs rooms I saw a really funny set of paintings. In the room dedicated to the women of the family were two paintings of the same woman facing each other from opposite walls. The first painting was sent to her fiance (by arrangement) before the wedding. It was the portrait of a beautiful, young, bright-eyed, very idyllic woman. The second painting was done after the wedding. It was a portrait of what she really looked like . . . a jolly, jiggley, squinty-eyed, piggly-looking woman! Perhaps this poor lady feared her wedding would have been called off if her intended had known what she really looked like. I come to affectionately refer to the first painting as "the prehistoric internet photo". If you'd like to see it, you'll just have to go to Sevilla! Photographs are not permitted in the upstairs rooms.

There are so many fantastic pieces of art and craftsmanship all throughout this exquisitly tiled palace. Do make a point to visit and take the full tour!

For 500 pst/$2.6, you can roam around the unfurnished rooms and salons on the ground floor and spend hours wandering through the lush gardens of its two patios, full of orange trees, colorful plants and flowers, and fantastic tilework that decorates the many fountains and pathways. If you want to enter the second floor, you need to buy a separate ticket for 500 pst and you can then join a guided tour of the salons and hidden passages. Most of the rooms feature original furniture and decorations – there's even a small Goya painting of the bullring in Ronda. An interesting detail is the fact that the duchess whose ancestors built the mansion still lives in one of the wings.