Caceres-Ovando Palace (Caceres)

The Caceres-Ovando Palace, also known as the “Stork Tower” due to the large number of birds that nest on its top, is a construction dating from the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. It is located in St. Paul’s Square, a small square that extends to St. Matthew's Square, at the highest level of the Monumental City.

It is built mainly with masonry, and its façade presents a simple semicircular arch with voussoirs. It is crowned by a window with the two heraldries of the Ovando and Mogollón families, while on the first floor are two double windows with pointed horseshoe-shaped arches, as well as a splendid interior courtyard in the Gothic style.

However, without a doubt, the element that truly stands out is the imposing tower with merlons and corbels, as it is the only one in the entire historical complex of Caceres that was not topped for demonstrating loyalty to Isabella the Catholic.

In 1940, the palace underwent a profound reform to serve as the headquarters of the then-Francoist military government. Since then, it has become the property of the Ministry of Defence.

Currently, it houses the administrative offices of the military area, but it also remains open to the public as a cultural centre, as a military museum and exhibition halls have been set up.

This beautiful palace is so popular that in 2018 the public was allowed to enter the palace tower due to the splendid views that can be seen from its height.