Casa de las Alhajas, Madrid, Cultural center in the San Martín area, central Madrid, Spain

Casa de las Alhajas is a cultural center in the heart of Madrid, housed in a late 19th-century building with an eclectic architectural style. The facade features symmetrical windows and ornamental stonework, while the interior is organized across several floors with high ceilings and decorative details.

The building was erected in the late 19th century to serve as a municipal pawnshop run by the city of Madrid. Over time, it was given protected status as a heritage property and converted into a cultural center.

The name Casa de las Alhajas, "House of Jewels", recalls the Monte de Piedad founded in 1702 by priest Francisco Piquer Rodilla to lend money on jewels and clothing. The building, designed by Fernando Arbós and José María Aguilar, opened in 1875. Its courtyard once held loan counters under Neapolitan-style paintings by Isidoro Lozano.

The center sits near Plaza de San Martin in central Madrid and is easy to reach on foot from the surrounding area. It is worth checking the current schedule before visiting, as opening hours can vary depending on the exhibitions or events taking place.

The building originally operated as a city-run pawnshop that gave small loans to people with few resources, accepting jewelry and household objects as collateral. This social function is largely forgotten today, yet it is the direct reason behind the building's distinctive name.