Palacio de Lebrija, Seville

Recognized as one of the most precious heritage sites of Andalusia, the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija has been turned into a museum since 1999. Dating to the 16th century and remodeled between the 18th and 20th centuries, the palace is characterised by its collection of art, including Roman mosaics and other antiquities as well as Asian art, paintings by European masters and European decorative arts.

The interior of the palace is decorated in a palette of architectural styles, with elements such as Moorish arches, Plateresque decoration, tilework retrieved from ruined convent, a coffered ceiling from a 16th-century palace and a Renaissance frieze, while its façade and layout reflect the typical Andalusian style.

Visitors may explore the ground floor at will. There are also guided tours (English/Spanish) of the upper floor throughout the day. The richly appointed rooms on this floor have been left as the family lived in them; they include sitting rooms, a private chapel, dining room and library, all of which contain a multitude of ornaments and major works of art.

Why You Should Visit:
The Countess filled her homes with a shocking array of archaeological finds!
If you don't speak Spanish, you might not be able to understand what everything is because the signs are only in Spanish.
However, the more spectacular items in the collection – namely the impressive Roman mosaics – require no labels to understand.
The building itself is also a sight worth seeing on its own, although it's very easy to become lost among the meandering rooms.

Tip:
If you do visit, make sure you do both floors, as you need to do the upstairs tour to really understand the place.