Ok so not so much time from my last visit to my beloved Madrid, Spain but already some good information like to pass on to you all! And there are still some goodies from Madrid to post stay tune!!!!
There is so much to see that after living and visits there still a whole of Spain left to see; all wonderful. From the Royal Palace of Madrid to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona there are many tourist claims that have made Spain, for the third consecutive year, the best tourist destination in the world according to the Economic Forum based in Switzerland. But the country also hides other architectural jewels, many times unknown even to the natives themselves, such as these ten palaces, which despite being inhabited, can be visited. Indeed they are glorious and I have been to half of them in my years in my beloved Spain and sentimental Madrid!
The Vela de los Cobos palace, in the Renaissance style, is one of the jewels of Úbeda, Jaén owned by the Sabater family since 1873. It was designed and built in the 16C and offers visitors the opportunity to know their collections of works of art, its library, the French lounge, the gala dining room or the main staircase among other rooms. On its exterior facade three levels can be observed. In the first one a door adorned between Corinthian columns, on which two warrior sculptures are drawn that hold the heraldry of the promoter Francisco Vela de los Cobos. On the second level, balconies are located with columns that are topped with an entablature and pediment, and decorated with wrought iron railings. And in the highest zone, there is a column gallery supported by pilasters. You can book a group visit at Semer, a tourist services company located in front of the palace. Duration: 1 hour Prices: General (guided by the palace owner): 4 euros. Contact information: Telephone:+34 953750034 / 953757916 Email: semer@semersl.com Web: www.semerturismo.com
In my nostalgic heraldic area in the municipality of Viso del Marqués in Ciudad Real ,region of Castilla-La Mancha is the Palace of the Marquises of Santa Cruz, It was built between 1564 and 1588 by order of Álvaro de Bazán, first Marquis of Santa Cruz and admiral of The Navy, who, due to his long stays in Italy and influenced by the tastes of the time, hired a select group of Italian artists for the work of these 8,000 square meters. The Palace consists of two floors and most of its rooms, as well as the high and low galleries, including the staircase, are painted in fresco. It currently houses the Archives of the Museum of the Navy Don Álvaro de Bazán. Contact information: Telephone: +34 926 33 75 18 or email: museoalvarodebazan@fn.mde.es and web: http://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/palacio-del-marques-de-santa-cruz-5364/descripcion/
In Meirá parish of La Coruña, there is the Pazo de Meirás, a stately mansion built at the end of the 19C on the ruins of an old fortification that was destroyed by French troops in 1809 during the War of Independence. It consists of three uneven crenellated towers linked by a lower building body. The whole pazo is surrounded by a large estate with forests and gardens. The property was originally from the family of Emilia Pardo Bazán where the writer spent long periods and had, in one of the towers, her private library. In 1939 it was donated to the Franco family, (Gen Franco with great controversy) that has used it since then as a summer residence. open to the public four days a month for at least four hours. To arrange a visit can be made by phone +34 686612717 or email visitspazodemeiras@gmail.com Web: https://www.turismo.gal/recurso/-/detalle/6852/pazo-de-meiras?langId=en_US&ctre=36&tp=9
Dueñas Palace is undoubtedly one of the best known in Seville owned by the house of Alba since 1612. Built between the 15C and 16C, the Dueñas Palace takes its name from the disappeared monastery of Santa María de las Dueñas, located in the adjoining site and demolished in 1868. In the 19C Dueñas was converted into a house of neighbors, its rooms compartmentalized with partitions and coffered ceilings covered with ceilings. Curiously, one of the tenants, and administrator of the Palace, was Antonio Machado Álvarez whose circumstance allowed the birth of one of the greatest Spanish poets, Antonio Machado in 1875! In the 20C Las Dueñas has been a meeting place for members of European dynasties and diverse personalities from the world of culture, politics and international art. They have visited the palace, or resided there, such illustrious characters as Empress Eugenie de Montijo, the English politician and hispanist, Lord Holland, Edward VIII and his brother George VI, Alfonso XIII, Jacqueline Kennedy, Wallis Simpson, Grace Kelly and her husband Prince Rainier of Monaco, among others. Web: www.lasduenas.es
The palace of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia is located in the Spanish city of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in the Andalusian province of Cádiz. It is currently home to the Casa Medina Sidonia Foundation. It was built in Renaissance style by the house of Medina Sidonia in the sixteenth century, on the structure of what appears to be an old Andalusian ribat or Alcazar of the twelfth century. The former palatine chapel of the Medina Sidonia, founded in 1493, was located. At present, there is a hostel located in the west wing of the old Muslim ribat that has nine rooms integrated in the former offices of the dukes and administrators of the House. The lodge, which is open all year and has a tea room surrounded by gardens and arched galleries, all located in the area of the Arab ribat at the end of the 11th century.
In Madrid of 1753 ,when in the capital of Spain there were still orchards and plots where to build, the Palace of Fernán Núñez stands as the house of Blas Jover, a member of the Ferdinand VI Council, at Calle de Santa Isabel ,44. In 1769, after several transfers of the property, Miguel José María de la Cueva, XIII Duke of Alburquerque and IV Marquis de la Mina, acquired and transformed the house. In 1803 he dies and, due to inheritance problems, the building is used as a barracks, hospital and housing. In 1815, Felipe María Osorio de la Cueva, VII count of Cervellón, inherited the palace by reforming it into the current romantic-style building articulated in two areas: the noble and the service that is now destined for offices. Currently, the palace, owned by Adif and Renfe, and is the headquarters of the Spanish Railways Foundation. Guided tours for organized groups with a maximum of 25 visitors per group. Price of the guided tour: € 125 / group. For more information about the visits or about spaces for the organization of events you can call tel.+34 91 151 10 82 or send an email to: palacio@ffe.es web: https://ffe.es/palacio/principal_en.htm
The palace of the Duques (Dukes) of Villahermosa rises in the town of Pedrola, Zaragoza. In the Renaissance style, the palace was built on the site of a 12C castle. The palace was carefully restored by Pilar Azlor de Aragón and her children. Currently it is intended for housing and the celebration of weddings and banquets. Guided tours can be done in two ways: By contacting the City of Pedrola at +34 976 61 91 88 (House of Culture) or, in case you want to arrange a visit outside the hours offered by the town hall, sending an email visita@palaciodevillahermosa.com indicating name and contact telephone number. Also for info use this email: info@palaciodevillahermosa.com Web: http://www.palaciodevillahermosa.com/
The Marivent Palace is the summer residence of the Spanish Royal Family in Palma de Mallorca and although the interior of the palace is not open to the public it is possible to visit the Marivent gardens. Visitors can walk through an area of more than 9,000 square meters through which you can see more than 40 species of flora characteristic of the Mediterranean garden. Admission is free and the Government of the Balearic Islands, owner of the complex, has accommodated benches and info panels for visitor enjoyment. Like any public garden, they are open all year except the 15 days that coincide with Holy Week and from July 15 to September 15 coinciding with the visit of the kings.More info on this hotel chain Barcelo on the palace in english: https://www.barcelo.com/guia-turismo/en/mallorca/things-to-do/marivent-palace/
It is worth visiting in Salamanca the Monterrey Palace, located in the city center just 50 meters from the Plaza Mayor, owned by the Casa de Alba. The palace was built by the will of the third count of Monterrey, Don Alonso de Acevedo y Zúñiga, who commissioned the project in 1539. The architectural style of the palace responds to one of the greatest exponents of the Spanish plateresque, formed of three bodies crowned with two towers and decorated with beautiful crests and chimneys. In the upper corners of the towers are the coats of arms of the III Earl of Monterrey. The built and preserved part shows a lower body of medieval imprint that contrasts with the beautifully decorated upper part. Part of the collection of the Casa de Alba Foundation, decorates the halls and spaces of the tour, such as the landscapes of José de Ribera, the portrait of the III Duke of Alba by Sánchez Coello, that of the Santa Teresa de Carreño de Miranda or oil paintings of Salvatore Rosa, Titian and other Spanish and foreign artists. The gallery is accompanied by a rich set of decorative arts from porcelain pieces and tiles from Talavera de la Reina to confectioners with heraldic shields, family busts, taracea furniture, baroque furniture mixed with Italian pieces and Mudejar coffered ceilings, among many other works of Art. The visits will be guided and with previous reservation that can be made in the Tourist Information Office. Group visits, always accompanied by an official guide. Email: informacion@turismodesalamanca.com Telephone:+34 923 21 83 42. Web: https://www.salamanca.es/es/palacio-de-monterrey
Last but not least, and my nostalgic favorite in Madrid. The Palacio de Liria, of the Casa de Alba, is one of the most important private residences in Madrid. It was built between 1767 and 1785 by order of the III Duke of Berwick and Liria, Mr. Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Colón under the direction of the architect Ventura Rodríguez. In November 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the palace suffers several fires that destroy the entire interior, leaving only its four facades standing. Most of the collection was saved and protected in different places in Madrid, such as the British Embassy, the Prado Museum and the Bank of Spain, among others.
The reconstruction was carried out by the XVII Duke of Alba, Mr. Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, work that culminated in the XVIII Dukes, Mrs. Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart and Mr. Luis Martínez de Irujo. The architect Manuel Cabanyes, was in charge of building the new Palacio de Liria, who, using the original plans, modified its main staircase, the chapel and the hallway. Today it is the residence of the 19th Duke of Alba, Don Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, and headquarters of the Casa de Alba Foundation, and is one of the most important architectural buildings in Madrid, housing one of the most outstanding private art collections in the world. I have already said in my post about it that will open to the public since September 19! But take it from the Duke itself «I live in Liria since 1956, when the house was inaugurated for my first communion. Now it may sound a little … 19C, right? But that is what happened, I came on the day of my first communion and I have been here since then ». Who remembers that day of his childhood is Carlos Fitz-James Stuart and Martínez de Irujo, the 19th Duke of Alba, The Duchy of Alba was born in 1472 and its six centuries are of the greatest historical relevance in Spain. Between these walls the Empress Eugenia de Montijo died (Empress of the French wife of Napoleon III). With the money of the tickets, 14 euros (reduced, 12), it will help its conservation. Indeed all worth it, enjoy it.
This is the Alba foundation site for the two last properties listed here. https://www.fundacioncasadealba.com/los-monumentos-de-la-fundacion.php
Hope you enjoy the post and think of things to do in Spain on your next visit, I have mine already lol!! Spain everything under the Sun!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
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