Palacio de Luko History
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Beginning of Palacio de Luko
From the high cross of Alto de Roba, turning left and going down to the north slope, you will arrive directly at the Arzamendi Palace, located in a district with its own legal personality until the 16th century. Arzamendi and Ullibarri Ganboa appear together since 1156 in various documents. So the relationship between the two places is not small.
Palacio de Luko Building
Our Palace
The building in question is the one known as Luko’s Palace and according to the bibliography consulted, I quote various extracts:
Fray Juan de Victoria mentions this place, saying: ”… they demolished the brotherhoods with popular fury, exceeding the license that King Juan II gave them, many other tower houses… Luco’s.
Micaela Portilla
Tells us the history of the palace
Micaela Portilla says that this tower destroyed in the 15th century “was not rebuilt like others and that we lack data that allow us to attribute it to a certain family”
What is known is that the remains of Don Juan Bernal Díaz de Luco are kept in his church. According to her, she reads on her tombstone: “Here rests Mr. Juan Bernal Díaz de Luco, natural son of this place, distinguished man in sanctity and letters. He was provisional of the bishopric of Salamanca and was promoted to professor of canons of the same and from there to hearer of the Royal Council of the Indies and at the end appointed by Carlos V to the Council of Trehento where he wrote four masses.
It could be that the Palace that we are going to describe belonged to the descendants of this gentleman, then, Micaela Portilla says that: “… the Manrique de Arana, relatives of the Bishop, inherited him in Luco …” and then continues saying: … The importance of Luco’s house among the possessions of the Manrique de Arana family, is manifested in the interest with which it appears mentioned, among the main family plots… ”.
Coat of Arms of the Palacio Luko
History of the shields of the main facade
From the shields that appear on its main façade, it has been possible to identify the arms of the one on the right; in a quadripartite field.
In the first barracks appear the weapons of Zárate (they bring a green tree copudo with five green panels in the shape of sores, in a field of gold) Zárate, which means old door.
In the second barracks Salazar’s weapons (the thirteen gold stars).
In the third barracks we find the arms of Lazarraga or Garibay (a deer standing in a wheat field surrounded by hedgerow, turning its head to an eagle that is sitting on its haunches).
The weapons in the room could not be recognized.
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The recent history of Palacio de Luko
Our history
The recent history of this building is ours and the persecution for the purchase and its subsequent renovations, first to turn it into a habitable home and lastly in this hotel.
About thirty years ago in the exercise of my profession, I accompanied an Englishman to advise him on the purchase of a unique building that could house an international language academy. There I discovered for the first time the so-called Luko Palace, a very attractive ruin, with many possibilities, which immediately fell in love with me. I advise you to buy it, but you don’t.
A few months later, with more heart than reason, I write to its owner with the intention of acquiring it to make him my home. What is my surprise when I hear that they had already sold it to a foundation to install a treatment center in it that for various reasons was never built.
About eight years later and after verifying, in the numerous visits that I made, almost secretly, that nothing was happening in it, I am interested again, I contact the agency that manages it, and I arrange a new visit with the intention of acquiring it this once since it was back on the market.
The visit is like a reunion in which I find that its deterioration is even greater, as is its price. However I keep my intention but it did not seem to be the same as the agency that intended to keep it for themselves.
Another eight years pass and the Palace is still there, full of bushes and with its sunken roof, I am interested again and ask about the town. There they inform me that it belongs to a construction company, that paradoxes of destiny, we coincided together in a housing project.
The rehabilitation of the Luko Palace begins
Hotel Palacio de Luko
After a short negotiation, I took over the building, took a deep breath, and began a year-long renovation, recovering the building for housing, respecting its historical values and its original layout, leaving some clues, such as the elevator shaft and various facilities. , of what one day could be and finally has been, this hotel.
After 15 years of residing in it and the fruit of a long meditation, within a state of pandemic and seclusion, we agreed to convert it into what it is now and start the works that last another year and conclude with the Hotel Palacio de Luko.