Palacio del Duque de Elduayen, Neoclassical palace in Centro district, Madrid, Spain.
Palacio del Duque de Elduayen is a four-story building on Paseo de Recoletos 25 with exposed brick facades, decorated balconies, and stucco ornaments covering its exterior. The structure sits independently on three sides, with a garden-facing side that features a staircase entrance leading to a modern temple-like design.
The palace was built between 1881 and 1882 by architect Miguel Aguado de la Sierra as a residence for José Elduayen Gorriti, who served as Finance Minister under King Amadeo I. Its construction reflects the prominence of the Elduayen family in Spanish financial circles during that period.
The building once housed La Lectura publishing house, which released the first edition of Juan Ramón Jiménez's Platero y yo in 1914. Visitors can sense the literary and cultural importance this place held for Spanish intellectual life in the early 1900s.
The palace now houses the Mapfre Foundation, offering art exhibitions and cultural programs that are easily accessible by various public transportation options in central Madrid. The location is convenient for visitors interested in exploring art and cultural events in the heart of the city.
The building was deliberately designed to stand independently on three sides, creating an unusually open appearance that sets it apart from surrounding structures. This unusual arrangement makes it a rare example of private architecture in an area typically characterized by denser construction.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
