19TH CENTURY COURTYARD HOUSE
Family home characterized in its structure by the presence of a central main courtyard, usually of even geometry, to which connect galleries and staircases in various positions around the main patio. The relationship between the patio and the public space is made through the entrance hall called zaguán, appointed with an exterior opaque door and an inside wrought iron door. They traditionally consisted of a winter floor (higher levels) and a summer floor (ground level) allowing for climate adaptation of the house throughout the hot and cold seasons of the year.
Occasionally they also presented a 2nd patio. Usually smaller in scale and secondary service staircaises. In this particular neighbourhood, 18th century courtyard houses started appearing as a more refined version of the common Sevillan house in which the patio was also present as central component of the house, also traditionally organized on 2 floors.
ARGOTE DE MOLINA STREET
Named in 1862 in memory of Gonzalo Argote de Molina (1548-1598), Sevillian historian and humanist, Argote de Molina is a lenghty street of variable amplitude and with an irregular layout. For the past centuries this street was a major point of passage for the transportation of food and goods coming from the docs of the Alhóndiga and, as a result, has undergone many adaptations throughout the years. Historically the street comprised of food and grocery stores/markets, today symbolized by by a wall-hanging reproduction of a large piece of dried cod, that can be found today at the corner of Placentines and Argote de Molina streets. The street still carries to this day the coloquial name of “Cuesta del Balacao”. Many holy processions walk down the Argote De Molina street during the Holy Week.
Given the shortage of stone in the area of Seville, Romans and Visigoths materials such as mil stone wheels or Roman marble columns were used as protection from the impacts and damages from heavy traffic in the city center’s narrow streets. By using such materials, façades and street corners were reinforced and offered protection against impacts.
ABADES STREET
The Abades street has been part of the axis that starts from the Puerta de la Macarena and ends with the Mateos Gago street, dividing the city in 2 since the 13th century. The “Abades” street has carried its name since 1355, which stands for “Abbots” in Spanish in reference to the members of the clergy that historically resided in the street in immediate proximy to the Cathedral.
In ancient times it was a very narrow street that did not allow the passage of carriages. As from the 17th century demolitions & modifications in the layout of the street were undertaken to upgrade its’ capacity. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was bricked and cobbled and finally paved in 1970. As from the 18th century the street comprises symbolic courtyard houses of great historical importance, such as the “Casa de los Pinelo”, where the Royal Sevillian Academy was founded. Also to be highlighted: the house where Muños y Pabón resided as a distinguished member of the Sevillan Catherdral’s clergy.
Many of the buildings on the Abades street were built on Roman and Muslim remains, such as the Roman Baths located at number 28. To be noted aswell the evidence of the existence of 2 mosques in the street.