Liria Palace

Art museum · Universidad ·

Liria Palace

Art museum · Universidad ·

Palace residence w/ art, Columbus docs, gardens, & family history

Information

Calle de la Princesa, 20, Centro, 28008 Madrid, Spain Get directions

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

The 24 Best Things to Do in Madrid, Spain

"An 18th‑century private residence of the House of Alba containing roughly 200 rooms filled with art and historical artifacts, with highlights including paintings by Christoph Amberger and Joaquín Sorolla and handwritten letters from Christopher Columbus addressed to Queen Isabella of Castile. As Rafael Pérez‑Navazo says, 'It’s one of my first ports of call on a day of sightseeing as it serves as a wonderful introduction to the city’s history and heritage.' He adds, 'After a busy day, a contemplative stroll in the gardens is my go‑to tonic for unwinding.'" - Siobhan Reid Siobhan Reid Siobhan Reid is an NYC-based writer, editor, and copywriter. She is currently the editor-in-residence at The Vintner Project and was previously an editor at Travel + Leisure, covering culture, design, style, and wellness. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-things-to-do-in-madrid-7568200

Liria Palace

@cntraveler

42,481 Postcards · 5,683 Cities

17 Best Things to Do in Madrid

"Packed with important artwork, this private residence of the Alba family (relatives still live on the second floor), has finally flung open its doors to the public. You could be forgiven for having flashbacks from the Prado here. It is packed with memorable works from El Greco, Titian, and Velázaquez just like the city’s most famous museum. Don’t miss Goya’s portrait of the 13th Duchess of Alba; if it looks familiar, that’s because until recently it was on loan to the Thyssen-Bornemisza. What is particularly special here, beyond the artwork display, is the large library onsite that includes handwritten work from Christopher Columbus (the largest collection in the world) and a first edition of Don Quijote by the famous Miguel de Cervantes. You’re going to find a lot here that you won’t spy elsewhere." - Ramsey Qubein

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-madrid

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Liria Palace

@cntraveler

42,481 Postcards · 5,683 Cities

Palacio de Liria – Landmark Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"What’s this place all about? Packed with important artwork, this private residence of the Alba family (relatives still live on the second floor), has finally flung open its doors to the public. Entwined in Spanish history, the Albas are de facto royals among Spaniards, and this peek into their collection of artwork and personal effects underscores that fact. It is so rich with antiques and historic pieces that you can think of it as the younger sibling of the Royal Palace. Be one of the first for an inside look at this majestic treasure trove since it just recently opened to the public. What will we see here? You could be forgiven for having flashbacks to the Prado here. It is packed with memorable works from El Greco, Titian, and Velázaquez just like the city’s most famous museum. Don’t miss Goya’s portrait of the 13th Duchess of Alba; if it looks familiar, that’s because until recently it was on loan to the Thyssen-Bornemisza . What is particularly special here, beyond the artwork display, is the large library onsite that includes handwritten work from Christopher Columbus (the largest collection in the world) and a first edition of Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes. You’re going to find a lot here that you won’t spy elsewhere. What did you make of the crowd? Since it’s a newer addition to a tourist’s to-do list, you won’t find tour buses lined up outside (just yet). Instead, visitors will intermingle with in-the-know tourists and locals curious for an inside look at this once-restricted palace. An online tour of the palace is almost as intriguing for armchair travelers. Luckily, much of the valuable artwork was stored in the Prado archives or in bank vaults during the many fires that the palace suffered over the years. Any guided tours worth trying? Guided tours will provide much more insight into the experience than you can garner on your own. Being so new, it is the only way to see the palace. One annoyance is that the museum charges an extra euro to those that prefer to buy an advance ticket online rather than at the entrance. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? There’s nothing here you can’t find elsewhere. Is the café worth a stop? Unless you need some water, step outside for better options. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? Take your time perusing this collection as you’re among the first as the doors were only reopened to the public in 2019. It’s an impressive perusal that won’t take more than an hour or two (unlike some of the bigger museums). This makes it a great option to fit into your schedule when you aren’t sure about how much extra time that you will have." - Ramsey Qubein

https://www.cntraveler.com/activities/madrid/palacio-de-liria

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Liria Palace

Michael O.

Google

This is a really beautiful place with an interesting family History. The Dukes of Alba have a long history in Spain and are still close to the monarchy. However, they are also Dukes of Berwick in Scotland, and claim descent from the Stuarts. There are many paintings of Stuart ancestors, including Henry VII, Mary Queen of Scots, Charles II and James II. The family moved to France during the Glorious revolution and served the French Monarchy before moving to Spain. The state rooms are luxuriously decorated and the gardens are very beautifully presented.

Lucas K.

Google

Best advice I can give you! Visit on Tuesday afternoon or Sunday afternoon — tickets are only €10 instead of the regular €22. Also, don’t miss the stables! Most people rush straight into the palace and completely skip them, but the visit starts there. Bonus tip: there are free tickets booking online on Mondays at 10AM. They are available one week in advance. The palace was quite impressive, beautifully maintained and rich in history. It houses more than half of Christopher Columbus’ autograph documents — meaning original handwritten documents by Columbus himself, which is pretty remarkable. Inside, it’s not just about paintings (though there are many, with references to several famous painters). You’ll also find original decorations, furniture, sculptures, everyday objects, and a large number of family portraits spanning generations, which really helps tell the story of the place over time. I visited on a Tuesday afternoon, and it was not too crowded, making it easy to enjoy everything at a relaxed pace. The palace is closed on Mondays afternoon. An audio guide is available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. There are 14 rooms plus the gardens included in the visit, which didn’t take more than an hour. A note on the gardens: the French gardens were not fully open during my visit. They’re currently only visible from a balcony near the front entrance on the left side, which is a bit of a shame but still nice to see from above. Practical details: lockers, a shop, and toilets are available near the stables. There’s no café on-site. Overall, a rich, well-curated palace visit with excellent explanations and great value — especially if you catch the reduced-price slots. Highly recommended.

David Le H.

Google

Beautiful palace from the Alba family. Must see if you go to Madrid. Fascinating family. Very helpful staff. The rooms are very well preserved . It was very quiet today which made it even better experience.

Francisco M.

Google

A nice palace with some interesting objects, paintings, and information about the Alba dukedom and family. However, while it’s understandable that funding is needed for its preservation, the visit doesn’t quite justify the €22 ticket per person. Not really recommended — there are much better options to visit in Madrid.

Michelangelo W.

Google

The Liria Palace is a neoclassical palace. It is the Madrid residence of the Dukes of Alba. A beautiful building and grounds. Allow time to explore the interior for the beautiful interior decorations and artwork.

joanna E.

Google

I went as soon as they opened. That helped me not feel rushed to go thru the whole building and it was quiet inside. I recommend earbuds so you can listen to the audio guide they have available in English. It comes with a lot of great info for every room.

Joanna M L F.

Google

I specifically came to Madrid, to see the artist Joana Vasconcelos exhibition at the Palacio de Liria as I admire her work and thought the exhibition looks amazing. This was my first time in Madrid. The Palace isn't hard to find, I walked there from Temple of Debod, it was about 10 mins. You can't see anything from the entrance because of the trees, the entrance is small, you show your ticket then go through airport style security then access to the garden to the palace. There is a small prefab style building to the left which has lockers, toilets and a small gift shop. The palace is very impressive. I had a wonderful time, there is so much to see and look at. It is very ornate and rich in detail. You are allowed to take photos as long as you don't use flash photography. The gardens weren't open, not sure why, you can only access front of the palace, not the back. Nevertheless it didn't detract from my visit. The exhibition was well put together, I could take in everything at my own pace without being rushed and it wasn't overcrowded. Joana Vasconcelos work is fascinating and intruiging, from stiletto shoes made from stainless steel pans and lids to Crochet covered dogs and abstract ornate figures. There is detail everywhere you look. This was definitely worth the short trip to Madrid from London. I had a wonderful time. (July, 2025)

Jon F.

Google

The palace is stunning and with the current exhibition you are also allowed to take photos. BUT for 23 euros you are NOT allowed in the garden. This is unacceptable. nevermind my life was I refused to walk around the gardens, they are far more interesting than the odd exhibition they have at the moment. Therefore only 4 stars. The staff were charming.