Palacio de Mora Claros

The Palacio de Mora Claros is a building on the former Calle Botica, now Calle Mora Claros, in the Spanish city of Huelva. It was built as the residence of businessman and politician Antonio Mora Claros and Josefa Jiménez Vázquez from an Alosno family and is currently a day care center for the elderly.

At that time, Calle Puerto was the most sought-after location for the construction of houses for the emerging bourgeoisie.

The Palace of Mora Claros was designed by architect Moisés Serrano in 1912. The additions with more elegance and more expensive details that were added in the spring of 1919 were designed by architect José María Pérez Carasa, who maintained the basic principles.

The building was plundered by the "Marxites" in 1936, after which the Countess of Mora Claros extensively restored the palace, giving it the sober and elegant style that can still be found in the facades, one of which (on Botica Street) ) contains her royal coat of arms.

In 1949, the provincial public library was established in various parts of the ground floor of the building.

It was taken over by the Junta de Andalucía in 1997 and was subsequently restored and adapted for its new use as a day center for the elderly.

It is a stylistically eclectic construction. One of the corners of the facade is crowned with a French-style tower.
The openings on the lower floor are framed with classically decorated moldings and corbels at the top, which support the balconies on the upper floor. These balconies have wrought iron and glass bay windows with Renaissance influences.

In the interior, the classic taste of plasterwork with consoles and cherubs alternates with modernist elements such as wrought iron railings with copper flowers or the large stained glass window in the courtyard lobby. These are motifs that refer to the discovery of America and feature plants and landscape decorations. Also striking are the tiled skirting boards with plant and animal decorations, inspired by the Andalusian tradition.

Photos: Alejandro Saldána / Germán Rodriguez