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San Esteban Palace

Former Jesuit college-convent, built between 1555 and 1569 in Renaissance style and declared a National Monument in 1931. It takes its name from Bishop Esteban de Almeyda, who supported its foundation. The college was a centre of humanist teaching; Francisco Cascales and Francisco Salzillo, among others, studied here. After the expulsion of the Society in 1767 the building served as a barracks and a charity house. It was nearly demolished in 1972, but in 1984 it became the seat of the Presidency and the Governing Council of the Region. It has two cloisters: the first, Renaissance, from around 1557, and the second, more Baroque. The adjoining church, with a façade bearing 17th-century statues of St Ignatius and St Francis Xavier, is now used as an exhibition and events hall. In the neighbouring garden is the site of the Andalusi suburb, which has its own entry.

Things to do at San Esteban Palace: 3 missions

• Walk around the palace and look at its Renaissance façadeWalk around the outside of the building, now the seat of the regional presidency, and notice the Renaissance sobriety of its walls and openings.
• Identify St Ignatius and St Francis XavierOpposite the Church of San Esteban, find on the façade the statues of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier, the two Jesuit saints.
• See the garden where the Andalusian suburb came to lightLook into the adjoining garden, where remains of an Andalusian quarter from the 12th and 13th centuries came to light in 2009.

Near San Esteban Palace

Source: Web oficial - Turismo Región de Murcia (Iglesia de San Esteban)