Real Academia Española headquarters, Neoclassical academy building in Madrid, Spain

The Real Academia Española headquarters is a building on Calle de Felipe IV, 4, in Madrid, inaugurated on 1 April 1894. Its architect, Miguel Aguado de la Sierra, gave it a clear Greek inspiration interpreted in an eclectic way, which made it an emblematic work of Madrid architecture. It has been a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1998.

The Academy was founded in 1713 and spent its early years in various rented buildings before relocating to this grand palace in 1894. The move to this location marked formal recognition of the institution's role as the principal authority on the Spanish language.

The building is the seat of the Real Academia Española, the institution that has regulated Spanish since 1713. Its name appears on the Felipe IV street facade, and the building was declared a monument in 1998. Visitors can see the rooms where academicians meet and the library that holds the Academy's collections.

The building stands at Calle de Felipe IV 4, opposite the Casón del Buen Retiro and a short walk from the Prado Museum and Retiro Park. Visits are organised as guided tours and must be booked in advance; the Academy does not admit walk-in visitors. The entrance is on the street facade, and the visit covers several floors, so allow time and wear comfortable shoes.

The institution maintains a detailed dictionary that has recorded every official word change and new addition since its founding. This living archive shows how the Spanish language has evolved over centuries and continues to change.