“Whoever wants to teach us a truth, let him place us in such a way that we may discover it”. Following the logic of Ortega y Gasset’s own quote that welcomes anyone who comes to the Palacete de Basilio Avial (calle de Ortega y Gasset, 18), there is no better way to get to know it than to go and see it in person… and exceptionally it is possible through free guided tours.
It is possible to visit it for free for just a few days thanks to the Welcome to the Palace initiative, which for years has been opening the doors of some of these buildings for the enjoyment of anyone who wants to visit them and, incidentally, soak up the rich heritage of the region.
The historic building -headquarters of the presidency of the ONCE and one of the great unknown by the people of Madrid- mixes in its architecture the French baroque with the historicism of the late nineteenth century, resulting in an ostentatious and eclectic result in its interior.
How is the Palacete de Basilio Avial inside?
To understand what the visitor will find behind the walls of this building, it is necessary first of all a little context: the mansion was built between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in one of the fashionable areas among the Madrid bourgeoisie: the Lista neighborhood.
The owner’s paternal uncle, Isaac Rodríguez Avial, architect and first developer, resigned to build it after finishing the project. In his place , José Purkiss took the reins of the construction.
Among the highlights of its interior are a metal skylight of polychrome glass, an ornate hall in Spanish neo-Renaissance style with plinth, frieze and coffered ceiling and a staircase with wooden handrails and bronze decoration on balusters and finials.
In addition to the above, there is also a large polychrome stained glass window from 1902, designed by architect Pascual Herraiz y Silo.
When and how can it be visited?
The Palacete de Basilio Avial will host free guided tours in sessions at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00 on the following dates:
- September 20 and 27
- October 18th and 25th
- November 15 and 29
In order to attend it is necessary to register in advance through this link. The deadline will open this Wednesday, September 3 at 10 am and the operation will be similar to the purchase of tickets for mass concerts: through a virtual queue.
Other unknown palaces in Madrid
In the same way that happens to this palace, there are other buildings in Madrid that despite their artistic, architectural or historical richness are not well known among the citizens. This is the case of the Palace of Fernán Núñez, the Palace of Maudes and museums such as the Cerralbo. You can find a more extensive list in this article.