Hospital de las Cinco Llagas
Current seat of the Parliament of Andalusia
Construction began in 1546 by the will of Don Fadrique Enriquez de Ribera. It was designed by Martín de Gainza, who directed the works until his death in 1556. Two years later the continuation of the work was entrusted to Hernán Ruiz II, and it was inaugurated, although incomplete, two years later. It has a rectangular floor plan and is articulated around 10 patios, of which only nine were built, although only eight remain today. The most characteristic element of the building is undoubtedly its church, located in the central courtyard of the sinister, exempt, has a Latin cross plan and a broad Renaissance character. It is higher than the rest of the building. Inside is where the plenary sessions are currently held, highlights its altarpiece, built by Diego López Bueno with paintings by Alonso Vázquez according to design by Asensio de Maeda.
The building functioned as the main altar.
The building functioned as a hospital until 1972. After years of neglect, in 1986 the projects for its conversion into the seat of the Parliament of Andalusia are drafted, being inaugurated on February 28 (Andalusia Day) 1992. The total restoration of the building was completed in 2003, with the conclusion of the recovery works of the courtyards and rooms that had not been undertaken during the eighties. Martín de Gainza raised the western courtyards, the facades and the towers, without the finishing touches.
Of exquisite refinement and unsurpassed classicism, its rationality and restraint served as an exponent of a new architecture, in contrast to the motley and chaotic medieval city walls that existed in the Seville of his time; and represents one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture throughout Andalusia.
