The mansion was built by architect Joaquín de Vargas y Aguirre, who incorporated traditional Salamantine masonry with modern iron-frame construction.
The collection of chryselephantine statues—sculptures combining bronze and ivory—is one of the most comprehensive in Europe.
During the mid-20th century, the building fell into a state of severe disrepair before the city acquired it for restoration in the 1980s.
The museum houses over 400 pieces of glasswork, featuring works by the Daum and Gallé workshops of Nancy, France.
The ornate stained-glass roof was restored using traditional lead-glazing techniques to maintain original light filtration effects.
Casa Lis is an Art Nouveau mansion turned decorative arts museum, situated atop the old city walls of Salamanca overlooking the Tormes River. The building features an expansive stained-glass skylight, designed to illuminate the central interior courtyard with shifting natural light. The collection focuses on late 19th and early 20th-century pieces, including Chryselephantine sculptures, French glasswork by Émile Gallé and René Lalique, and porcelain dolls. Constructed in 1905 for Miguel de Lis, the house was built using iron and glass elements characteristic of industrial-era architecture. It remains one of the few examples of modernist architecture in the city of Salamanca. The museum hosts a permanent collection spanning over 2,500 pieces distributed across two floors. Its south-facing facade is a glass gallery that projects outward over the city's ancient southern defensive perimeter.
The interior courtyard looking up toward the multi-colored glass ceiling.
Visit during a sunny afternoon to experience the interior stained-glass reflections at their peak.
Explore the lower-level galleries first, as they often contain smaller, intricate porcelain displays that are overlooked.
Utilize the museum’s internal bridge, which connects the main house to the newer gallery extension.
Do not mistake the modern entrance for the historic facade; the main visitor access is through the newer addition rather than the original ornate front gate.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
Flash photography is strictly prohibited to protect light-sensitive materials, especially the antique dolls and textiles.
