The former Abellaneda Assembly House houses the Encartaciones Museum, which displays a chronological view of the region and its inhabitants from an economic, social, political and cultural point of view.
It is a great place to meet, enjoy and learn about the present and past life of Enkarterri, providing a historical, political, ethnographic and heritage view of the region and its inhabitants.
In addition, the museum serves as a driving force for the study, dissemination and recovery of the historical, artistic and ethnographic heritage of Enkarterri.
The Assembly House
The Abellaneda Assembly House is one of the most representative symbols of the region, as a symbol of the freedoms and privileges of the territory.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when these meetings of the hidalgos of Encartaciones began, who came representing their family, tower or house, and finally transformed (probably at the end of the 16th century) into the meeting of the representatives of the different municipalities of Encartaciones.
The reason this place was chosen as the headquarters for the Encartadas Assemblies is found in its strategic location , as it is situated in the geographical center of the region.
We have no information that would allow us to verify the original appearance of the Assembly House. However, we do know that in 1635 the coat of arms, currently the building's only decorative element, was placed on its main façade. It depicts the arms of the Lordship and those of the Lord of Biscay .
The building we can see today, whose main purpose is to serve as a museum, is the result of the different stages of restoration that took place during the first half of the 20th century, so that during this time another floor was added and the crenellations that run along facades and terraces were arranged.
