In the centre of the second register, above the Order of the Golden Fleece and flanked by the two-headed eagle of the Holy Roman Empire and the crowned eagle of St. John, symbol of the Kingdom of Spain, is the imposing royal escutcheon of the Emperor Charles V. Lastly, on the third and uppermost register, there is the figure of a Pope, possibly Benedict XIII or Martin V, both protectors of the University in their time, addressing clerics and prelates. To the right and left of this group are the heads of Venus and Hercules. Note that as they get higher, the figurative and arabesque reliefs grow in size. Leading off from the university quadrangle are the lecture rooms. The library and a museum will be found on the first floor.
Baroque balustrade gracing the inner courtyard.
This 15th century palace bears a certain resemblance to the House of Shells and originally belonged to Fernando Alvarez Abarca, erstwhile physician to Queen Isabel the Catholic. It houses a fine art collection of paintings and sculpture, including an outstanding piet by Luis de Morales. It was built at the behest of King Ferdinand the Catholic when the Old Cathedral became too small. Work on a late Gothic-Style design commenced in 1513 under the supervision of Juan Gil de Honta n, son of Juan who continued the work, introducing Renaissance touches, such as the decorative addition of medallions. Towards the end of the 16th century, Juan de Ribero took charge of the project, envisaging a square-cut east end flanked by two towers, a plan that eventually came to nothing.