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History and Art in the Ribacardo Farm Inn (Posada):
Due to its historical importance and architectural quality, the Ribacardo Tower was declared a Building of Cultural Interest, in the category of Castles, in the year 1949.
This stylish/slender medieval building, situaded between Medina de Pomar and Villarcayo, within the precincts of Villanueva de la Lastra, belonged to a branch of the Velasco family with connections to the Peña family.
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| The Ribacardo Tower before restoration began. |
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The name refers to a complex of buildings with the functions of farm, home and rural defense, made up of a tower with adjoining palace on the south side, built on a slightly raised hillside.
Before its restoration the complex had been left to fall into a state of considerable disrepair.
The tower was four-gabled and measured 9.7m by 6.5m round the sides and was 13m high.
The palace, with a two-gabled roof, stretched 14.5m and was 7.5m high. In the thick walls, which were almost 1m through and made of good stonework with worked masonry at the corners, there were various openings for doors, windows and ventilation. |
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This door is now the entrance to the reception area. |
From the old building to the modern-day Ribacardo Farm Inn:
After several decades of almost total abandonment, we took on the project that would permit the rehabilitation and new use of this historic building. Thus, in 1996, we started the complicated work with the aim of transforming the old tower into a café, restaurant and comfortable rural accommodation.
Throughout the restoration process we have tried to respect the original exterior as far as possible, keeping the old doors, windows and other openings (saeteras).
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| This is how the patio looked before being converted into the dining-room and kitchen service rooms. |
In this open area on the first floor some of the bedrooms have been installed. |
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In 1998 the restoration was completed. Granja Ribacardo opened its doors to new guests.
As can be seen in the photographs, its look today is totally different to that before the restoration began.
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The old farm outbuildings have been turned into the café and reception.
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