House of Álvarez-Cuevas


The House of Álvarez-Cuevas or House of Álvarez de Cuevas is a Spanish aristocratic family. In the 19th century, they possessed the noble titles of Marquises of Santa Cruz de Marcenado and Viscounts of Puerto.

History

The House of Álvarez-Cuevas has its origins in the Principality of Asturias, although its members soon settled in the Kingdom of Seville, where at the end of the 17th century, the family possessions were in Jerez de la Frontera, Rota and El Puerto de Santa María, the city where the Álvarez-Cuevas Palace is located.
After the War of the Spanish Succession and the victory of Philip V of Spain, supported by the House of Álvarez-Cuevas, successive members of the family participated in the West Indies Fleet and occupied high military commands in Cádiz, Veracruz, La Habana and Cartagena de Indias, in the Spanish Navy. They also occupied different municipal offices in El Puerto de Santa María, where Francisco de Álvarez-Cuevas y Banquero became an illustrious native of the city.
In the 18th century, the senior line of the family was established in the Principality of Catalonia, when Juan de Álvarez-Cuevas y de Craywinckel married María Luisa de Viard y de Salvador, niece of the Count of Fogonella.
Throughout its history, the House of Alvarez-Cuevas has connected with important Spanish noble houses, having as ancestors the Barons of Florejachs, the Marquises of Serdañola, the Counts of Castellar and, with the latter, Juan Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 1st Duke of Medina Sidonia.

Prominent members of the family

The House of Álvarez-Cuevas is or has been the owner of several historic buildings in Catalonia: