Introduction

I arrived in Arenas de San Pedro for the first time in 1778, at first, I settled with my family in the Casa Lleget, but it was too small for us so later I moved to the Palacio Viejo, a building that despite being enlarged and improved was still uncomfortable.

I felt so well in Arenas that I finally decided to build a decent house at the top of the village, in the area known as La Mosquera, which had privileged views of the Sierra de Gredos and its surroundings.

I entrusted the work to the best Spanish architect of the time, Ventura Rodriguez, and his collaborators. The works progressed rapidly and in 1783 I moved with my family to the right wing, already finished. Here I enjoyed my great passions, music, science, and art. And I had my little court in one of the most beautiful corners of Spain. I had everything I wanted, my science cabinet, my good friends Boccherini and Goya, the possibility of hunting whenever I wanted, my wife, and my children. However, I lacked the recognition that I deserved because of my condition and birth.

After my death and the transfer of my children to Toledo, the contents of my house were emptied and taken to Boadilla del Monte to be inventoried. My palace began to deteriorate progressively and suffered many vicissitudes, the occupation of the French troops during the War of Independence.

It was a minor seminary between 1868 and 1869. In 1913 it was sold to an Arénense, José Rodríguez Morcón, and in 1943 to the bishopric of Ávila, who adapted the rooms to use it as a seminary until 1972.

Finally, in 1988 the Arenas City Council bought the building in an advanced state of deterioration and since then has been carrying out rehabilitation and improvement actions to restore my house to its splendor.

Introduction by Infante don Luis