Look up and to the corner, right where two busy streets meet in Kings Square. You can’t miss it - Casa de los Dragones towers above with its creamy stonework, fancy windows, and, most importantly, four large dragons crouching on the roof. Their wings are outstretched, almost as if they’re about to swoop down and carry off an unsuspecting tourist.
All right, you’ve made it to the House of the Dragons! Now, if you’re waiting for fire and smoke, don’t worry, these dragons are the silent type. Take a good look: the building’s lower half, with its chunky stone and playful balconies, feels like something out of a fairy tale. But as you gaze higher, you’ll see what really makes hearts race - four fierce dragons perched on the rooftops, their mouths open in a silent roar.
Back in 1900, the mayor Francisco Cerni González and his brother wanted to leave their mark on Ceuta. So, they brought in the imaginative architect José Cortina Pérez. He dreamed up a home that looked like a cross between a castle and a theatre, and then, for a grand finale, he topped it with dragons. That’s how you get a nickname that sticks better than glue: Casa de los Dragones.
The original plan was for this place to be named after the Cerni brothers, but those dragons stole the show. Even in Pérez’s hometown of Valencia, there’s a "Building of the Dragons," but let’s be honest - ours is much bolder! Over the years, this building has seen all kinds of action. The Spanish Falange party held secret meetings here, and after decades, the facade needed a facelift. In swooped Salomón Benhamú Roffé, who helped save the day.
But the dragons disappeared in 1925 - lost to time and probably not soaring off to start their own lives, despite the rumors. Decades later, local artist Antonio Romero Vallejo brought the dragons back, but these new beasts were lighter, made from resin and fiberglass painted to look like bronze. Each one weighs less than 200 kilos, so you don’t have to worry about them falling off and scaring the postman.
Let your eyes wander over every detail. Imagine the stories, the dragons watching over the city, their wings braced against the wind. If you listen closely, you can almost hear them whispering old secrets to each other high above the streets. Now, onward to your next adventure. But keep glancing up - you never know when you’ll spot another dragon in Ceuta!
