Enthusiasts of Madrid’s cultural heritage will have a new opportunity to visit some of the capital’s most inaccessible historic buildings. The 13th edition of “¡Bienvenidos a Palacio!” will offer nearly 8,000 free spots to visit 24 palaces in the region between September 11 and December 1. Reservations open tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2, at 10:00 a.m., and you’ll have to act fast: each person may choose only one palace.
The Community of Madrid’s initiative offers guided tours of buildings that, for the rest of the year, usually have restricted access because they house embassies, ministries, cultural institutions, or private residences. Behind their facades lie reception halls, monumental staircases, libraries, historic gardens, courtyards, and art collections.
How to book the tours
Places will be reserved through the Community of Madrid’s Cultural Heritage Reservation Center. The reservation period opens on Wednesday, September 2, at 10:00 a.m., and for this edition, each user may select only one palace and request a maximum of two tickets per reservation.
This year’s edition features two new additions: the Goyeneche Palace and the Uceda Palace. Both join a program that already allows visitors to step inside some of Madrid’s most iconic residences and institutional venues.
Which palaces can be visited?
The 24 buildings included in this edition are:
- Palace of the Duke of Abrantes, headquarters of the Italian Cultural Institute.
- Palace of the Marquis of Amboage, headquarters of the Italian Embassy.
- Basilio Avial Mansion, headquarters of ONCE.
- Fernán Núñez Palace, headquarters of the Spanish Railways Foundation.
- Buenavista Palace, Headquarters of the Army.
- Liria Palace, headquarters of the Casa de Alba Foundation.
- Palace of the Duchess of Parcent, headquarters of the Ministry of Justice.
- Santoña Palace, headquarters of the Official Chamber of Commerce of Madrid.
- Palace of the Marquises of Santa Cruz, headquarters of the Álvaro de Bazán Foundation.
- The Palace of the Marquis of Rafal, residence of the Belgian ambassador.
- Palace of the Marquis of Villafranca, headquarters of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
- Palace of the Countess of Adanero, Central Archive of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Administration.
- Palace of the Count of Santa Coloma, Consular Section of the Italian Embassy.
- Parque Florido, Lázaro Galdiano Museum.
- The Manuel González-Longoria Palace, headquarters of the Madrid Notarial Association.
- Pedro Luján Palace.
- Godoy Palace, headquarters of the Center for Political and Constitutional Studies.
- Palace of Infanta Isabel de Borbón, Headquarters of the Central Air Command and Headquarters of the First Air Region of the Spanish Air Force.
- Joaquín de la Torre y Angulo Mansion, headquarters of the Swedish Embassy.
- Zurbano Palace, headquarters of the Ministry of Public Works.
- Aldovea Castle-Palace, in Torrejón de Ardoz.
- Palacio del Infante Don Luis, in Boadilla del Monte.
- Goyeneche Palace.
- Uceda Palace.