House of the Seven Chimneys, Protected historical government building in Plaza del Rey, Madrid, Spain.
The House of the Seven Chimneys is a government building in Madrid distinguished by baroque design elements, including seven prominent chimneys rising from its roofline and evenly spaced rectangular windows across the facade. The structure occupies a central location near Chueca and displays the architectural vocabulary of sixteenth-century Madrid.
Construction took place between 1574 and 1577 under architect Antonio Sillero as a private residence for the nobility. During the seventeenth century, it became the home of British ambassador Sir Richard Fanshawe, marking an important chapter in Madrid's diplomatic relations.
The building housed the Women's Lyceum Club during Primo de Rivera's regime, serving as a gathering place for Spanish women's movements in the twentieth century. This role reflects how the structure transitioned from private residence to spaces where social change took shape.
The building sits near both Banco de España and Chueca metro stations, making it easy to reach by public transport in central Madrid. Currently functioning as part of the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sports, exterior access is straightforward, though interior visits may require prior arrangements.
During nineteenth-century renovations, workers uncovered human remains and a coin purse from Philip II's era hidden in the basement walls. These findings suggest the site held secrets from earlier centuries before the current building took its present form.
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