Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas
The Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas is one of the most extraordinary examples of Rococo architecture in Spain, standing in the heart of Valencia. A stately mansion built for the Marqueses of Dos Aguas, it is now owned by the Spanish State and houses the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts, one of Europe’s finest collections of its kind.
- Type
- Rococo palace and national museum
- Period
- Originally medieval; remodelled in Rococo style in the 18th century
- Style
- Rococo; Churrigueresque ornament
- Location
- Carrer del Poeta Querol 2, 46002 Valencia, Spain
- Coordinates
- 39.4727° N, 0.3745° W
- Current use
- González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts
At a glance
- Type
- Rococo nobility palace / national museum
- Period
- Medieval origins; Rococo remodelling c. 1740–1744
- Style
- Rococo with Churrigueresque alabaster portal
- Location
- Central Valencia, Province of Valencia, Spain
Overview
The Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas occupies a prominent position in the historic centre of Valencia, a few steps from the cathedral and the main pedestrian thoroughfare. Historically the private residence of the noble Marqueses de Dos Aguas, the palace passed into state ownership and was converted into a museum celebrating Spain’s extraordinary ceramic tradition. Today it is recognised as one of the finest decorative-arts museums in southern Europe, drawing specialists and visitors alike.
History
The original structure dates to the medieval period, when Valencia’s noble families built their urban palaces around the cathedral quarter. The decisive transformation came between 1740 and 1744, when the second Marquis commissioned the sculptor Ignacio Vergara and the painter Hipólito Rovira to redesign the facade in an extravagant Rococo manner. The state acquired the property in the 20th century and inaugurated the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics here in 1954, honouring the collector Manuel González Martí who donated his life’s collection to the nation.
What you see
The palace’s most celebrated feature is its alabaster portal, a virtuoso piece of Churrigueresque Rococo carving depicting two rivers — the Júcar and the Cabriel — flanking the entryway with an allegory of Valencia’s fertility. The interior preserves gilded reception halls, a chapel, and a monumental staircase. The museum galleries display Valencian, Aragonese, Andalusian, and Asian ceramics spanning seven centuries, including the lustred wares that made Valencia famous across medieval Europe.
Cultural significance
The palace is listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), Spain’s highest heritage designation, and is considered the supreme example of Rococo civil architecture in the Valencian Community. Its portal ranks among the most photographed Baroque-Rococo carvings in Spain. The González Martí collection inside is of national importance as the largest and most systematic survey of Spanish ceramic art.
Practical information
The González Martí National Museum of Ceramics is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 20:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. Closed Mondays and public holidays. Admission is free for EU citizens on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the official museum website for current hours and temporary exhibition schedules before visiting.
Getting there
The palace is located on Carrer del Poeta Querol in central Valencia, within easy walking distance of the Cathedral and the Plaça de la Reina. The nearest metro stations are Xàtiva (Lines 3, 5, 7, 9) and Colón (Lines 3, 5, 7, 9), both about 10 minutes on foot. Numerous bus lines stop nearby along the Carrer de la Pau and Gran Via Marquès del Túria.