Carnicerías Reales (Royal Butchery)

The Carnicerías Reales building was the slaughterhouse and meat market in the 16th century.It was built by Francisco del Castillo and features a Mannerist-style doorway of Italian origin,which is framed by carved, bossed masonry columns, on top of which lies a triangular pediment, curved in the centre and finished with pyramids atop decorative balls. The building has a square floor plan, with a central patio surrounded by a gallery of semi-circular arches atop rustic stone columns and towers in each of the corners. A beautiful stone spiral staircase connects with the lower level, where animals were once sacrificed.