Madrid,
A decade ago, in the spring of 2014, the Community of Madrid launched the program Welcome to the palaceintended to make known to the public an architectural heritage, sometimes of great ornamental wealth, which usually remains closed to the public despite the fact that there are many reasons to highlight it: often this type of construction, in the centre of the capital, was demolished or transformed into more modern residences or offices.
That year, six palaces could be visited, free of charge, by specialist Cultural Heritage technicians who offered appropriate explanations about their architecture, decoration and uses: the Marquis of Fontalba Palace, that of Don Guillermo de Osma, that of Fernán Núñez, that of Godoy, the Bauer Palace and that of Don Manuel González-Longoria. Since then, the success of the initiative has only become more consolidated, with the number of buildings open to the public multiplying and the number of places offered being filled very quickly, which in 2024 will practically double the initial number (in this period, nearly 87,000 people have joined the programme).
The registration period for the new edition of Welcome to the Palace began on September 9 and visits will take place between the 16th of this month and November 30: 8,500 people will be able to sign up and select the monument of their interest from among twenty-four possible this time, throughout the Community. They will be the Palace of the Duke of Abrantes (Italian Institute of Culture), the Palace of the Marquis of Amboage (Italian Embassy), the Palace of Basilio Avial (headquarters of the ONCE presidency), that of Buenavista (Headquarters of the Army), that of Fernán Núñez (Foundation of the Spanish Railways), that of the Dukes of Híjar (Embassy of Portugal), the House-Palace of Javier González Longoria (Headquarters of the General Society of Authors and Editors), the Palace of Santoña (Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid), the Palace of Liria (Casa de Alba Foundation), that of the Duchess of Parcent (Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts), that of the Marquises of Santa Cruz (Álvaro de Bazán Foundation), that of the Marquis of Villafranca (Royal Academy of Engineering), that of the Countess of Adanero (Ministry of English: Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory), that of Aldovea (on the Castillo road, in Torrejón de Ardoz), that of the Marquises of Argüeso (official residence of the ambassador of the Republic of Argentina), that of Santa Coloma (Consular Chancellery of the Italian Embassy), that of Parque Florido (Lázaro Galdiano Museum), that of Godoy (Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies), that of the Infanta Isabel de Borbón (General Air Command of the Air Force), the Palace of Joaquín de la Torre y Angulo (Embassy of Sweden), that of the Infante Don Luis de Borbón (in Boadilla del Monte), the House-Palace of Manuel González Longoria (Illustrious Notarial College of Madrid), the Palace of the Marquis of Rafal (Residence of the Ambassador of Belgium) and the Palace of Zurbano (Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda).
As usual, these tours will be guided by heritage education specialists, will take place from Monday to Sunday and are aimed at adults. Registration can be requested here, choosing the palace and date, and if the places are filled, a virtual queue system will be established.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.comunidad.madrid
