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Regarded as the finest example of an Andalusian aristocratic palace in Seville, the Casa de Pilatos is a sixteenth-century mansion that blends Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance styles in a harmonious whole, set among the streets of the old city. The palace was built by the powerful Enriquez de Ribera family, and according to tradition it takes its name from a comparison drawn between the house and the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, after one of its owners returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and established a devotional route through the city beginning at the palace. The building is celebrated above all for its central courtyard, a masterpiece of decorative art in which Mudejar plasterwork, intricate azulejo tilework in dazzling patterns, Gothic tracery and Renaissance arches and sculpture combine, surrounded by classical statues including ancient Roman busts collected by the family. Beyond the main courtyard, the palace unfolds through a series of richly decorated rooms, salons and chapels, with coffered ceilings, more tilework and frescoes, and a grand staircase crowned by a magnificent gilded dome. The palace is also renowned for its gardens, tranquil enclosed spaces planted with orange and lemon trees, palms, climbing plants and aromatic shrubs, dotted with fountains, statues and loggias, offering a cool and fragrant retreat that exemplifies the Andalusian tradition of the garden as an earthly paradise. Still owned by the noble House of Medinaceli, the palace remains partly a private residence while opening its principal floor and gardens to the public. The combination of architectural styles, the exceptional tilework and the serene gardens make it one of the most rewarding sights in the city. Located within the historic centre of Seville and easily reached on foot, the Casa de Pilatos draws visitors interested in architecture, decorative art and history throughout the year across every season of the calendar. Tickets cover the courtyards, the principal floor and the gardens, and the palace's blend of Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance art makes it one of the most rewarding monuments in the city throughout the year across every season of the calendar.