The Provincial Archaeological Museum of Ourense occupies what was once the Old Episcopal Palace of the city. This building represents the most complete civil monumental ensemble of Romanesque style preserved in Ourense. In 1931, it was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument.

The structure of this old palace-fortress is a faithful testimony to the city’s development and played a significant role in medieval urban organization.

The current building was constructed in the 12th century. Over the centuries, it underwent modifications and expansions that altered its general appearance. Thus, Gothic elements (tower of Santa María), Renaissance (garden galleries), Baroque (such as the main entrance), and modern (arcades of Bispo Carrascosa street) were added.

The Archaeological Museum, founded in 1895, was definitively established in this building in 1951. For this, a significant renovation of the building was necessary, according to the project by architect Pons Sorolla, executed between 1960-68. Currently, the Old Episcopal Palace is once again under construction to update and expand the Museum’s facilities. Meanwhile, it is possible to visit part of its collections in the Escolma de Escultura room, in San Francisco.