Explore the Palace of Liria of Madrid as its door opens for visitors

The incredibly enigmatic Palace of Liria is now set to open its doors to the public from September 19, 2019. Considered as one of Madrid’s finest cultural treats, it is now open to guests to experience this classic wonder, full of art pieces and more.
The Palace of Liria was a Spanish Duke’s palace, the 19th Duke of Alba, which was the highest nobility in those days. The Duke was also the head of one of the oldest and richest aristocratic houses in all of Spain, the one that is opening for guests this month. The palace houses paintings by giants of the art world, including Francisco Goya, Diego Velazquez, and Peter Paul Rubens. Additionally, the palace also has a library where there are letters written by Christopher Columbus. It also houses a first edition of the world-famous novel, Don Quixote, written by Miguel de Cervantes.


According to Alvaro Romero Sanchez-Arjona, Head of Cultural Department, Casa de Alba Foundation, the museum is not an ordinary one, as it is a palace, which is an inhabited house. The palace also has a portrait of the 13th Duchess of Alba, painted by Goya himself.
This is the third palace that the Albas have opened up for public visits since 2016. The family is however restricted from selling many of the heirlooms due to their significance for Spain. Dating back to the 1400s, the House of Alba is estimated to be somewhere between 600 million euros and 3.5 million euros.

At the Palace of Liria, visitors will be allowed to visit in groups of 20. The tour will be conducted on its ground and first floors, every 30 minutes. You will have to pay a fee of $15.5. The Palace of Liria is also where the last empress of France, the wife of Napoleon III, died in exile in 1920. The second floor of the palace is the residence of Duke Carlos Fitz-James Stuart and his family.