At the end of January, the National Museum of Romanticism (Calle de San Mateo, 13) announced its temporary and preventive closure after, according to the institution itself, “deficiencies in the building were detected during a technical inspection.” Twenty days later, it reopened its doors, and this March it has inaugurated an exhibition that aims to become a meeting point for fashion lovers: Echoes of Romantic Fashion.
The exhibition brings together more than 40 designs that reinterpret romantic fashion by some of the most important names in Spanish fashion of the 20th and 21st centuries. Among them are Cristóbal Balenciaga, Pedro Rodríguez, Manuel Pertegaz, Flora Villarreal, Elio Berhanyer, Sybilla, Jesús del Pozo, Teresa Helbig, and David Delfín.
The pieces in the exhibition, distributed throughout different rooms of the Marquis of Matallana’s palace—the museum’s headquarters—are displayed with the intention of establishing—or rather, highlighting— the constant dialogue that existed between fashion design and nineteenth-century art.
This feedback loop with the museum’s own rooms and works is particularly evident in the case of the painting collection, which shows the clothing worn by the wealthier classes during the decades from 1830 to 1870. Visitors will thus stroll among strawberry trees, floral prints, and those silhouettes so characteristic of Romanticism, with their cinched waists and voluminous skirts.
Exhibition prices
Access to this exhibition, which can be visited until June 7, 2026, is included with the general admission ticket to the museum. The price is normally €3, but from February 20 to March 20, admission to the museum is free, which is another reason to visit during this period.
Once that time has passed, there are also other opportunities to visit the Museum of Romanticism free of charge, such as Saturdays from 2 p.m., Sundays, special days such as International Museum Day (May 18), and groups such as seniors over 65 or Youth Card holders.
Tickets can be purchased directly at the box office, as they are not available online. At the same time, there will be guided tours and other activities related to the fashion exhibition, such as workshops, which you can check out at this link.
Closure of some rooms due to improvement works
The reopening of the museum coincides with the completion of necessary infrastructure improvements, which means that several rooms in the museum will remain closed to the public while work on the building continues: from Room XV – Women’s Boudoir to Room XXI – Men’s Bedroom. This affects the museum’s permanent collection.
