Palacio de Velázquez

The Palacio de Velázquez is an exhibition space in El Retiro Park featuring red-brick walls, iron vaults, and extensive glass panels. The interior contains elongated exhibition halls that benefit from natural light entering through the glass, creating a bright environment for displaying artwork.

The building was constructed between 1881 and 1883 by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco as the venue for Madrid's National Mining Exhibition. Following this initial purpose, the structure was later adapted to serve as a contemporary art exhibition space.

The museum presents rotating exhibitions of international contemporary art in naturally lit galleries throughout the year. These changing shows allow visitors to experience different artistic movements and works from around the world in the same space.

The exhibition space is located in central Madrid within El Retiro Park and is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday with no admission fees. The building closes on national holidays, so visitors should check opening days in advance of their visit.

The building incorporates tiles from the Royal Factory of La Moncloa and stands as the last remaining pavilion from the 1883 mining exhibition. These features make it a rare survivor of that historical event and a connection to Madrid's industrial past.

Location: Madrid

Inception: 1881

Architects: Ricardo Velázquez Bosco

Architectural style: eclectic architecture

Part of: Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences

GPS coordinates: 40.41519,-3.68199

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:58