The Town Hall of Espejo, seat of the municipal government, is located in the heart of the historic center. The building, with its sober traditional Andalusian architecture, has been renovated over time, although it retains features characteristic of its institutional function since the modern period. Its simple and balanced façade reflects the administrative continuity of the town, which for centuries has maintained its role as the center of local governance.
In the Plaza de la Constitución stands one of the most notable manor houses of Espejo, a refined example of 18th-century Baroque architecture. It was built by the Tafur y Leiva family, a lineage linked to the administration of the Ducal House.
Its façade, with fluted columns and estípites, is crowned by a noble coat of arms. One of its most distinctive features is the chain hanging from the balcony, a symbol of the “privilege of chains,” granted after hosting in 1731 the Infante Carlos of Bourbon — the future Charles III — who took refuge here during a smallpox epidemic in Córdoba. This privilege granted the right of asylum to anyone seeking refuge in the house, giving it exceptional legal and symbolic value.
At 10 Antón Gómez Street stands the oldest manor house in Espejo, built at the end of the 16th century. It is notable for its Renaissance-style façade with faceted rustication, characteristic of the period.
It belonged to Antón Gómez, a figure linked to seigneurial power under the rule of the Duke of Medinaceli. In addition to its historical value, the house is surrounded by popular legends and was once the residence of the martiricos, religious figures responsible for maintaining local order. In front of it, remnants of a medieval wall are still preserved.
Located in the Plaza de la Constitución, opposite the Town Hall, this building symbolizes a meeting place for the people of Espejo. Vendors of vegetables, fish, and meat would gather here daily to sell their goods. It was not only a place to buy food products but also a space for conversation and social interaction among the town’s inhabitants. Even day laborers would wait here to be hired by those in need of workers (masons, farmhands, transporters, etc.).
As a result of the restoration program carried out by the General Directorate of Devastated Regions between 1944 and 1946, the building features a façade crowned with moldings painted in yellow and tiles with indigo-blue letters reading: “Municipal Market. D.G.R.D. (Dirección General Regiones Devastadas) Year 1944.” Together with the Town Hall (which had previously served as the post and telegraph office for two years), in 1946 it enhanced the urban character of the square, consolidating it as a central hub in the life of Espejo, bringing together administration, trade, services, and taverns.
Located at 64 San Bartolomé Street, this manor house, built in 1798, is one of the finest examples of stately architecture in Espejo. Its impressive three-story façade, decorated with Baroque elements, reflects the status of its former inhabitants.
The stone entrance, with pilasters, lowered arches, and a pediment topped by a cross, stands out. Inside, a spacious hall leads to an elegant gallery and a porticoed courtyard of clear Roman influence, revealing the grandeur and practicality characteristic of noble residences of the time.
The House of Water, located on San Bartolomé Street next to the Ducal Castle and the church of the same name, is an interpretation center dedicated to the hydraulic heritage of the ancient Roman colony Claritas Iulia. This former water reservoir, carefully restored, reflects Espejo’s historical concern for water management due to the scarcity of local springs.
The building showcases the evolution of hydraulic infrastructures that ensured the water supply from Roman times up to the 20th century, when public piping was introduced. The House of Water preserves and promotes this essential legacy for understanding the development and daily life of the town.
