Santiago Segura, the director of Torrente, who has once again been the talk of the town in recent months thanks to the latest installment of the series, is one of the three owners of Pedraza Castle, a 13th-century fortress overlooking one of Spain’s most beautiful medieval villages, which is now embarking on a new life as a venue for art, comedy, and music.
Pedraza Castle stands atop the hill overlooking the town of Segovia: a 13th-century fortress, rebuilt and renovated in the 15th and 16th centuries, featuring a keep, a moat carved into the rock, and imposing defensive walls. Its stones hold stories of nobles and wars—it even served as a prison for the sons of French King Francis I after the Battle of Pavia—and today it forms part of the historic complex protected as a Site of Cultural Interest.
In the 20th century, the painter Ignacio Zuloaga bought the fortress, restored part of its towers, and set up his studio there, filling the castle with canvases, sketches, and works of art that eventually gave rise to the Zuloaga Museum: 17th-century Flemish still lifes, works by Goya, a Christ by El Greco… a veritable treasure enclosed within its walls. It is precisely this artistic legacy that its new owners now wish to revive.
Who are the owners (and who’s really in charge)?
The purchase was finalized in 2024 for approximately 4.8 million euros and involves three key figures: cultural producer Luis Álvarez, comedian José Mota, and actor and director Santiago Segura. Together, through the company Teatrópolis, they acquired the property from Zuloaga’s heirs, with the aim of opening the castle to the public, organizing cultural events, and turning it into a hub of creative activity in the heart of Castile.
Álvarez, director of the Gran Teatro CaixaBank Príncipe Pío in Madrid, serves as the driving force behind the project; Mota and Segura bring media appeal, comedic talent, and a highly recognizable image to attract audiences, projects, and film shoots. This is not a typical private mansion, but rather a heritage investment intended to serve as a cultural and tourist venue featuring concerts, theater, comedy series, exhibitions, and tours that allow visitors to explore halls, dungeons, and old rooms that, until recently, were rarely opened to the public.
A haven for art in one of Spain’s most beautiful villages
Pedraza had long been established as one of the country’s most beautiful medieval towns thanks to its walls, arcaded square, cobblestone streets, summer festivals, and an atmosphere that attracts both weekend tourists and film crews. The arrival of the Mota–Segura–Álvarez trio at the castle aims to add another layer: to transform the fortress into a hub of art, humor, music, and theater—a place where heritage is not merely admired, but experienced.
The idea is to revive Zuloaga’s legacy, open more spaces to the public, schedule performances, and host film shoots and artist residencies. In other words: let the 13th-century stones continue to tell stories, but now with the collaboration of contemporary screenwriters, comedians, musicians, and filmmakers.