Museo de Historia de Madrid

About the museum

The museum has its origins in the Exhibition of Old Madrid of 1926, organised by the Sociedad Española de Amigos del Arte in the restored former hospice. It opened on 10 June 1929 as a Municipal Museum, with objects belonging to the City Council, deposits from institutions such as the Biblioteca Nacional and the Museo del Prado, and private donations. During the Civil War the baroque façade was protected with a brick casing, and the basements served as a refuge for property from churches, convents and palaces.

The building was the Hospicio del Ave María y Santo Rey Don Fernando, a charitable institution promoted by the Blessed Simón de Rojas to take in the poor and sick of Madrid. From 1674, under the brotherhood founded by Queen Mariana of Austria, it operated on Calle de Fuencarral.

The museum closed for works in 1955 and reopened in 1978. Between 2000 and 2001 part of its collections passed to the new San Isidro and Contemporary Art museums, and its chronological scope was set at 1561 to the first decades of the 20th century. After a major refurbishment and a definitive closure in 2008, it partly reopened in 2011 and was presented with a new display in 2014.

The permanent display tells the city's history from 1561, when Philip II made it the capital of the monarchy, in three areas: “Madrid, Villa, Corte y capital de dos mundos”, “Madrid, centro ilustrado del poder” and “Madrid, el sueño de una ciudad nueva”.

Highlights

• Scale model by León Gil de Palacio
• Cartography and models room
• Rooms of the 17th and 18th centuries
• War of Independence room
• Former baroque portal of the hospice
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Exposición permanente: historia de Madrid de 1561 a principios del siglo XX – Chronological tour in three areas, from Madrid as Villa y Corte to the great capital of the 19th century, with cartography, models, paintings and objects of the city.

Founded

1929

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Madrid

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free, and individual visits do not require a booking.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Facilities accessible for people with reduced mobility: entrance ramp, lifts, adapted toilets, wheelchair available, hip rests and tactile plans. There is an induction loop, a visual guide and an easy-read guide, and a presentation video with subtitles and sign language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly

There are family visit guides for ages 3–6, 7–9 and 10–12, in Spanish and English; they can be requested at information or downloaded from the website. The programme includes workshop visits and family activities. Baby buggies are allowed.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

The museum lists wifi among its services, along with a cloakroom, shop, library and documentation service. Bags over 40 cm, backpacks and umbrellas must be left in the cloakroom; eating and drinking are not allowed.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit