Palacio Real de Riofrío

About the museum

The palace of Riofrío was built on land of the forest and the dehesa of Riofrío, which Philip V bought in 1724. After his death, his widow Isabel de Farnesio promoted there her own estate, to offer her son, the Infante Don Luis, a country palace where he could retire. As she was of Italian origin, she commissioned the project from Virgilio Ravaglio, and the building has simple and elegant lines of Italian taste, to the extent that it is considered the most Roman of Spanish palaces. The early death of the architect in 1753 meant that the works had to be entrusted to other masters.

The accession of Charles III, son of Isabel de Farnesio, meant that she regained a prominent role at court, and she never came to live at the Real Sitio. The palace remained uninhabited for more than a hundred years, and was occupied only by the consort king Francisco de Asís, who decorated it in the mid-19th century, and by Alfonso XII, who spent his mourning for the death of his first wife in 1878 there.

In the 1960s of the 20th century it opened to the public with the Museo Alfonsino and the Museo de la Caza (Hunting Museum). Later the decoration and uses that the salons had in the 19th century were recovered, with more than 500 works of art from other Royal Sites. The palace is surrounded by more than 600 hectares of forest of great biodiversity and is now undergoing a process of improving its facilities, so part of the rooms is closed.

Highlights

• Salons restored with the 19th-century decoration
• Oratory with a cycle of 149 paintings on the life of Christ
• Bedroom of Francisco de Asís and billiard room
• Dining room with its original dumbwaiter
• Museum of Natural Heritage, opened on 14 October 2026
• Forest of Riofrío, some 600 hectares, around the palace

Permanent exhibitions

• Salones del Palacio Real de Riofrío – Tour of the restored salons with the 19th-century decoration, including the oratory, the bedroom of Francisco de Asís and the billiard room.
• Museo del Patrimonio Natural – Museum opened on 14 October 2026 in the palace; until 31 December 2026 the visit is free of charge.

Founded

1751

Operated by

Patrimonio Nacional

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Wednesdays and Sundays from 15:00 to 18:00 (October to March) or 15:00 to 19:00 (April to September) for citizens of the European Union and Ibero-America with accreditation; 18 May and 12 October for all visitors. The Museum of Natural Heritage is free of charge until 31 December 2026.

Owing to the change of route caused by the improvement works, new admission rates apply. Also free, with accreditation, are children under 5, people in a legal situation of unemployment, practising teaching staff, official tourist guides and members of ICOM and ICOMOS. Free admission to the Museum of Natural Heritage is withdrawn at the physical ticket office; the general palace ticket also gives access to it. The visit is suitable for the Bono Cultural Joven.

Accessibility

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

There is access for people with reduced mobility and manual wheelchairs are available. The single ticket office is on the east façade.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car from Madrid, via the A-6 / AP-6 / AP-61 to Segovia and the SG-724 to Riofrío, or via the A-VI to San Rafael and the N-603 to the junction with the SG-721. From La Granja take the SGF-7133. Visitor access to the palace is on the east façade.

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