Real Sociedad Económica Matritense de Amigos del País, Educational organization in Madrid, Spain
The Real Sociedad Económica Matritense de Amigos del País is an educational organization housed in the Torre de los Lujanes at Plaza de la Villa, the oldest civil building in central Madrid. The structure itself reflects architectural styles from multiple periods, with features that show how it has been used and modified over the centuries.
The institution was founded in 1775 under King Charles III to promote scientific knowledge and technical progress across Spanish territories. It played a role in spreading Enlightenment ideas and modernizing Spanish education during that era.
The organization maintains a collection of 200,000 volumes in its library, including early printed books and specialized documents about Spanish economics.
The location is at Plaza de la Villa 2 and can be visited by prior arrangement. Visitors should plan ahead as access to collections and archives requires coordination with staff.
The institution displays fourteen paintings from the Prado Museum collection, including a portrait of King Charles III by Anton Raphael Mengs. These artworks show the connection between this organization and Spain's royal collections.
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