Palacio de Liria

The Palacio de Liria is the official residence of the House of the Dukes of Alba in Madrid and is considered the largest privately used residence in the city. Built in the neoclassical style, the city palace was begun in 1767 and today houses one of the most important private art collections in Spain. After a devastating fire during the Civil War that destroyed the building down to its façades, reconstruction began in 1948, incorporating earlier modernization plans.

On guided tours, you can see the magnificent state rooms and the historic library. The art collection includes masterpieces of Spanish, Italian, Flemish, and French painting, including works by Goya, El Greco, Velázquez, and Rubens. The archives hold valuable documents such as handwritten notes by Christopher Columbus, a first edition of Don Quixote, and the first Bible in Castilian. The estate has been open to the public since 2019, though visits must be reserved online in advance.