Walking through Casa Zapata Cartagena, you immediately understand why this mansion stands out among the modernist buildings scattered across this southeastern Spanish port city. Built between 1909 and 1912 by architect Víctor Beltrí, this Gothic Revival gem sits prominently on Plaza de España, where it has witnessed over a century of Cartagena's evolution.

The story behind the house reads like something from a novel. Miguel Zapata Hernández, son of a powerful mining entrepreneur known as "Tío Lobo," commissioned Beltrí to create something extraordinary for his upcoming marriage to the Marquise of Villalba de los Llanos. He wanted innovation, distinction, and plenty of gardens to match their social status. Tragically, both Miguel and his wife died just years after the house was completed, leaving this architectural treasure without its intended occupants.

What strikes you first is the building's eclectic character. Beltrí, influenced by the Catalan modernist school, mixed Gothic Revival elements with touches that echo Gaudí's work. The entrance features an imposing door flanked by two columns supporting a crenellated tower, while Viennese-influenced details punctuate the facade. Those trilobate arches and slender columns definitely give away its Gothic inspiration, though the whole composition feels distinctly early 20th century.

But the real surprise waits inside. After passing through a marble-walled vestibule with a modernist staircase, you reach what they call the Arab courtyard. This square space, decorated with Mudejar plasterwork and polychrome tiles, feels like stepping into a different world entirely. The neonazarí style creates an almost theatrical atmosphere, enhanced by the iron and colored glass dome that floods the space with light.

Since 1942, the building has housed the Santa Joaquina de Vedruna school, run by Carmelite sisters. What started as a girls' school is now co-educational, with Casa Zapata serving as administrative offices and additional classrooms. The irony isn't lost – this symbol of private wealth became a place of education and community service.

Despite its current educational use, visit Casa Zapata is still possible for those interested in Cartagena's architectural heritage. The building earned Grade 1 protection status, and there's ongoing discussion about declaring it a Cultural Interest Site. An audio guide can help visitors appreciate the finer architectural details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Standing in that luminous courtyard, you can almost imagine the lavish parties that never were, while appreciating how the building found new purpose serving generations of students.