PALACIO DE SAN BOAL
45 minutes
The current palaces of San Boal and Arias Corvelle were initially part of the same building, which has led to both being referred to as the San Boal Palace on numerous occasions. The Arias Corvelle Palace was built in 1470, later receiving the name Palace of the Marquises of Almarza or Cerralbo due to the titles received by the descendants. Over time, the palace was segregated into two properties: the Arias Corvelle Palace, currently home to the Hispanic-Japanese Cultural Center, and the San Boal Palace, which houses the Caja Duero Foundation (formerly the San Eloy School of Fine Arts).
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The buildings that today house the Caja Duero Foundation (San Eloy School of Fine Arts) and the Hispanic-Japanese Cultural Center (CCHJ) were originally a single property. This palace, built in 1470, has received different names throughout its history, according to its owners: Arias Corvelle Palace, in honor of its founder; Palace of the Marquis of Almarza or Cerralbo, due to the noble titles of its descendants; and San Boal Palace, due to its location in the eponymous square.
Throughout the centuries, the building was subject to various segregations and reunifications, mainly motivated by family inheritances. Its definitive division occurred in 1906. That same year, Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Almarza, sold the sector we now know as the San Boal Palace to house the School of Nobles and Fine Arts of San Eloy and the Salamanca Conservatory of Music. The northern part of the palace remained in the family's hands until the death of the Marquis of Cerralbo in 1922.
The San Eloy School was founded at the end of the 18th century by the silversmiths' guild. At the end of the 19th century, it transformed into an autonomous educational community, detaching itself from the guild that originated it. In 1947, it was integrated into the Cultural Work of the Savings Bank, which provided it with strong economic support and remarkable cultural projection. Its golden age came in the sixties, when it hosted exhibitions by renowned artists, connecting Salamanca with the most innovative currents of Spanish art. Artists of the stature of Zacarías González, María Cecilia Martín, Agustín Casillas, Vidal González Arenal, Manuel Gracia, Genaro de No, Andrés Abraido, Isabel Villar, and Fernando Mayoral have passed through its classrooms, either as professors or students.
Throughout the centuries, the building was subject to various segregations and reunifications, mainly motivated by family inheritances. Its definitive division occurred in 1906. That same year, Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Almarza, sold the sector we now know as the San Boal Palace to house the School of Nobles and Fine Arts of San Eloy and the Salamanca Conservatory of Music. The northern part of the palace remained in the family's hands until the death of the Marquis of Cerralbo in 1922.
The San Eloy School was founded at the end of the 18th century by the silversmiths' guild. At the end of the 19th century, it transformed into an autonomous educational community, detaching itself from the guild that originated it. In 1947, it was integrated into the Cultural Work of the Savings Bank, which provided it with strong economic support and remarkable cultural projection. Its golden age came in the sixties, when it hosted exhibitions by renowned artists, connecting Salamanca with the most innovative currents of Spanish art. Artists of the stature of Zacarías González, María Cecilia Martín, Agustín Casillas, Vidal González Arenal, Manuel Gracia, Genaro de No, Andrés Abraido, Isabel Villar, and Fernando Mayoral have passed through its classrooms, either as professors or students.
The San Eloy Art School, managed by the Fundación Caja Duero, features a variety of spaces designed to foster creativity and artistic training for all ages. It includes:
- Rehearsal room for the Children's Choir.
- Workshop classrooms specialized in disciplines such as drawing, painting, engraving, illustration, and graphic design.
- Exhibition hall, where works by students and guest artists are displayed.
- Areas for summer workshops, which host practical activities for initiation and advanced training in various artistic techniques.
These spaces are designed to cater to a diverse audience, from children to adults, and to offer a complete and participatory educational experience.
Currently, both buildings host temporary exhibitions, workshops, and a wide program of cultural activities.