The Urbanism and Culture departments of the City Council of Villa del Río have announced the placement of two chains at the main entrance of the 'Casa de las Cadenas' Municipal Historical Museum. This action symbolically recovers one of the elements that best explain the history and naming of the building.
The former residence of the Molleja Salcedo family, located at Blas Infante street, received the 'Privilege of Chains' in 1731, granted by King Felipe V after hosting the Infante Don Carlos. This privilege granted the property temporary immunity from ordinary justice, making the chains a visible symbol of a distinction of special relevance within the legal and social context of the Old Regime.
With the installation of these chains, the aim is to reinforce the historical identity of the building and make the origin of its name more understandable for residents and visitors. The building, of baroque typology and rebuilt during the 18th century, remained in the hands of the Molleja lineage for almost three centuries, from 1629 to 1913. It was acquired by the City Council in 1998 for cultural use and has housed the Municipal Historical Museum since 2004.
The 'Casa de las Cadenas' is currently one of the main cultural and museum spaces in Villa del Río. The ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions, offering an artistic and cultural program that allows for periodic content renewal. The first floor features permanent exhibition halls, integrating the 'Francisco Pérez Daza' Archaeological and Paleontological Museum and rooms dedicated to contemporary painting.
Among its collections and exhibition spaces are works and collections linked to prominent artists such as Beppo, Abdul Wahab, Ginés Liébana Velasco, Blas Moyano Rosauro, Ricardo Zamorano, and Óscar Estruga, along with funds related to Pedro Bueno.
These chains are more than an ornamental element; they are a symbol that helps us recover, explain, and value the memory of one of the buildings with the greatest historical personality in Villa del Río. The City Council continues to work to preserve, dignify, and bring our heritage closer to all the people of Villa del Río and its visitors.
