Palacio de Velázquez

About the museum

The Palacio de Velázquez was built in the Retiro Park for the National Exhibition of Mining, Metallurgical Arts, Ceramics, Glassware and Mineral Waters of 1883. It was designed by the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, with the engineer Alberto del Palacio and the ceramicists Germán and Daniel Zuloaga. It was the only pavilion of that exhibition conceived as permanent.

The building is rectangular, with three square volumes linked by galleries, a central body with a barrel vault and skylight, and four corner turrets. It combines an iron structure, large glass skylights, two-tone brick from Zaragoza and Zuloaga ceramic cladding. It measures about 74 m long and 29 m wide.

After the 1883 exhibition it was used for other shows. In the 1940s the rear section, damaged in the Civil War, was rebuilt, and in the 1970s, by then declared a National Historic Monument, it was restored in two phases. In the 1990s it became an exhibition venue of the Museo Reina Sofía.

After rehabilitation works financed with European funds, which improved the roofs, air conditioning and lighting, it reopened in June 2026. Today it is a space for temporary exhibitions, with free admission.

Highlights

• Iron and glass pavilion of 1883 by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco
• Facades of two-tone brick and Zuloaga ceramics
• Temporary exhibition space of the Museo Reina Sofía
• Free admission all year round
• Located in the Retiro Park, next to the Palacio de Cristal

Founded

1881

Operated by

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the exhibition rooms all year round.

Accessibility

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

The museum only states that assistance dogs are admitted; it publishes no further accessibility details for this venue.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

It is inside the Retiro Park, about a 10-minute walk from the Puerta de Alcalá and about 7 minutes from avenida de Menéndez Pelayo.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit