Palacio de la Cotilla & Its Authentic Chinese-Style Tea Salon
In the heart of Guadalajara stands the Palacio de la Cotilla, a 17th-c. Baroque mansion preserving an interior Oriental tea room lined with hand-painted Chinese rice paper—a rare luxury in Europe.
Origins & Construction
Built atop 16th-c. homes of Inés de la Cotilla, a wealthy heiress, the palace arose in the early 17th c., its name honoring this prominent lady.
The Oriental Tea Salon
- Authentic Chinese style: walls and ceiling clad in rice paper imported from China, confirmed by restorers.
- Hand-painted scenes: medieval Chinese legends featuring palaces, pagodas and imperial courts.
- Stage & columns: proscenium flanked by columns for theatrical and musical performances.
- 19th-c. fashion: installed by the Marquises of Villamejor to enchant their guests.
Current Use
Today the palace hosts the Municipal School of Arts, where workshops and open-house events reveal the exotic tea salon.
Visitor Info
- Location: Plaza de la Cotilla 1, Guadalajara.
- Visits: cultural days per the Arts School calendar.
- Accessibility: wheelchair-friendly.
Stand beneath its beams, admire the delicate rice-paper art, and journey to the Far East without leaving Guadalajara.
How to get there
Coordinates:
Decimal: 40.634444°, -3.164167°
DMS: 40°38'04" N, 3°9'51" O
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