If you’re the type who enjoys getting lost in the gardens of Aranjuez, exploring El Escorial, or discovering the fountains of La Granja de San Ildefonso, this plan is for you. The Royal Collections Gallery offers a journey back in time to these sites as they were in the 19th century, through the lens of landscape painter Fernando Brambila (1763–1834), and into the intimacy of their salons via the exhibition Weaving Court Life. You can visit both exhibitions for free ( we’ll tell you how later), but access is also included in the general admission ticket to the Galleries: get yours here.
9 November 2026 10:00 + more dates
Galería de las Colecciones Reales
Brambila, Painter of the Royal Sites, First Exhibition
Of Italian origin, Fernando Brambila arrived in Spain in 1791 with a mission: to join Alessandro Malaspina’s scientific expedition, which would sail along the coasts of the entire Americas from Buenos Aires to Alaska, continuing on to the Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia until 1794. During the voyage, Brambila was responsible for illustrating landscapes, cities, and ports, providing the visual component to the journals compiled by Malaspina.
After returning from the expedition, the painter decided to settle in Madrid and put his talent at the service of the Crown. His rise was rapid: in 1799 he was appointed court painter, architect, and decorator, and from that moment on, his work encompassed the decoration of palaces, the design of monuments, and the creation of urban vistas, among other things.
A tour of the Royal Sites in the 19th century
The highlight of the exhibition is the commission that Fernando VII gave to Brambila in 1821: to portray the Royal Sites to establish an official image of these iconic places, from the Royal Palace of Madrid to the retreats of Aranjuez and El Escorial, and even corners that no longer exist today, such as the Royal Site of La Isabela in Guadalajara. The exhibition features a selection from the original series of 95 oil paintings, which was reproduced as lithographs in 1833 so that ordinary people could see the palaces.
In addition, the exhibition also features some of the striking prints of the ruins of Zaragoza following the Napoleonic siege, as well as examples from his time on the Malaspina expedition, evidence of the documentary value of the Italian painter’s work.
Weaving Court Life, second exhibition
To complement the exterior view of the palaces offered by Brambila, the Gallery presents Weaving Court Life, the largest exhibition dedicated to court textiles in Spain and a journey into the most intimate and luxurious aspects of the monarchs’ lives.
National Heritage has brought to light more than 200 pieces of exceptional technical quality, the vast majority of which have never before been exhibited to the public. Among the gems hidden in the exhibition (accompanied by paintings, photographs, and furniture) are unusual treasures such as Queen Berenguela’s pillow ( dating from before 1246), a “sultana” bathtub that concealed its hygienic function by transforming into a divan, and a curious 19th-century float covered in cotton.
Everything you need to know before you go
📅 When: through October 12, 2026
📍 Where: temporary exhibitions at the Royal Collections Gallery (next to the Royal Palace and the Almudena)
🎟️ Price: Admission to both exhibitions is included in the general admission ticket to the Gallery. You can also purchase an exclusive combined ticket for both temporary exhibitions for €8. It’s completely free if you present a ticket from any other Royal Site managed by National Heritage, except for Descalzas, Encarnación, Huelgas, Tordesillas, and Yuste.
🧑🧑🧒 Perfect for history and art lovers, as well as locals and visitors looking for a relaxed cultural outing in Habsburg Madrid.
Royal Collections Gallery
9 November 2026 10:00 + more dates
Galería de las Colecciones Reales