Zaragoza, El Patio de la Infanta

Joseph de Sesma 1692

State of preservation: Restored in 1992 by José Maria Arrizabalaga.

Little is known about Joseph de Sesma, active in Zaragoza in later 17th century. This organ bears an inscription: „Joseph de Sesma mefecit en Çaragoça año 1692“. In 1686 he repaired the organ of San Pablo in Zaragoza and added a Trompeteria. In  1696 he built the organ of Santa Cruz in Zaragoza, in 1698 another repair in Santa Maria de Borja, again in Zaragoza. Possibly the horizontal reeds of the organ in the Patio de la Infanta  have been part of the original concept.
The Patio de la Infanta is the most beautiful Renaissance patio in Aragon, originally part of a 16th c. palace which had collapsed after several fires in the late 19th century. The patio had been dissolved but was acquired by the local bank Ibercaja and integrated in its new building in 1980. The name "Infanta" refers to Teresa de Villabriga, wife of the Infant Luis (brother of King Carlos III) who lived in the palace. The patio is now used as a museum.