Madrid’s Museum of Romanticism (Calle de San Mateo, 13) will be completely free this summer: the institution has announced that between June 30 and August 31, admission to this Madrid museum will be free for visitors.
This means that anyone visiting the capital during these summer months has the opportunity to explore, room by room, a museum that is perhaps not so well known in the city, where the daily life and customs of the upper class during the Romantic era are brought to life.
In fact, the Museum of Romanticism—which, by the way, as a fun fact for literature lovers, was directed by Rafael Alberti during the Civil War, when it was still called the Romantic Museum—could be described as a house-museum with an exceptionally rich collection.
Its permanent collection includes everything from paintings and drawings to prints, sculptures, furniture, photography, and decorative arts, as well as an extensive documentary archive.
Temporary Exhibitions
Those who visit the museum this summer will also be able to see two temporary exhibitions: “The Artist in Italy” (through September 20) and “Endometriosis: The Silenced Pain ” (through September 13), the latter presented as part of PhotoEspaña.
In the case of the first exhibition, it delves into what artistic study trips to Italy were like in the mid-19th century through the drawings of Federico de Madrazo, Luis de Madrazo, and Vicente Palmaroli.
In the second piece, photographer Laia Abril denounces institutional neglect and obstetric violence suffered by five different people with endometriosis, through the fragmentation of their bodies.
Alongside the exhibitions, the museum organizes related activities such as workshops for both children and adults. You can find all the information on the museum’s official website.
The café at the Museum of Romanticism
To round out the visit, the museum featuresa cozy, 19th-century-inspired café located next to the Magnolia Garden, the historic garden of the Palace of the Marquis of Matallana—the museum’s home.
Its hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Its menu features a variety of coffees, cakes, and savory snacks.
An important point to keep in mind is this notice from the museum: “The café is a service separate from the museum. If you wish to visit the museum and there is a line to enter, you must wait your turn to reach the ticket counter. At no time will you be given priority access to the museum simply because you are in the café.”
What are the opening hours of the Museum of Romanticism?
In the summer (May through October), the museum’s hours are as follows:
- Tuesday through Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Sundays and holidays: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Closed every Monday.
