Museum of Royal Collections in Madrid
The long-awaited Royal Collections Museum of Madrid will open its doors this summer, making it the most important museum project in Spain in decades. Located next to Madrid’s Royal Palace, this impressive rock-cut building stretches from the Campo del Moro to the Plaza de la Armería.
Access to the museum will be from two points: the cornice of the Plaza de la Armería, at the level of the Royal Palace, and from the Cuesta de la Vega, at the top of the Campo del Moro gardens. The panoramic views of Madrid, the Casa de Campo and the Sierra will be truly incomparable.
Starting this summer, the Royal Collections Gallery will become the main space to showcase the richness, excellence and diversity of the royal collections. It will also be a window to publicize the Royal Sites and disseminate the work of Patrimonio Nacional in support of the head of state, as well as in the restoration, conservation, dissemination and care of the impressive historical, cultural and natural legacy it manages in six autonomous communities.
The idea of building a museum to house the collections from the Crown’s patrimony originally arose during the Second Republic, and in 1998 the project was taken up again with the approval of the construction of the Gallery. After twenty-five years of waiting, the public will finally be able to enjoy this ambitious project.
Currently, the assembly of the museographic elements that will allow displaying the 650 pieces of the inaugural exhibition is at an advanced stage. Until the official opening, a space has been set up to show the progress of the assembly work, thus providing a small window to everything that can be enjoyed in this long-awaited museum.
Undoubtedly, the opening of the Royal Collections Museum of Madrid will mark an important milestone in the cultural panorama of the city and will be a must-see for lovers of art, history and culture. We can’t wait to immerse ourselves in the wonders that will be housed in this renovated cultural treasure.
The building
The design of the Galería de las Colecciones Reales building was based on two fundamental premises: to form part of the natural and artificial environment of Madrid’s western cornice and to preserve the public and open nature of the Plaza de la Almudena.
Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón were the architects responsible for this architectural project, which manages to go unnoticed from the esplanade between the cathedral and the Royal Palace. The building develops vertically and creates a linear space towards the Campo del Moro, following the lines of the Royal Palace and in perfect harmony with its surroundings.
The construction is contemporary, sober and simple, but it is also an impressive architectural achievement, as it supports the cornice of Madrid with an immense screen wall.
The facade is composed of reinforced concrete pillars clad with granite slabs on the exterior. Inside, it is surprising for the spaciousness of the spaces, the natural light and the views of the landscape outside.
To date, the building has received ten major architectural awards, including first prize from the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM 2016), the FAD architecture award in 2017 and the American Architecture Prize (AAP 2017).
Construction, which began in December 2006, was carried out in four phases and completed in December 2015. The building has a floor area of more than 40,000 square meters, of which 8,000 square meters are for public use. Its three exhibition halls are spacious open-plan halls measuring 103 meters long by 16 meters wide, generated by a succession of concrete porticoes.
On floor -1 is the archaeological room, where the remains of the Arab wall, of great historical importance, including the entrance gate to Madrid, have been exhibited. These remains, which date back to the origins of the city, can be visited and understood thanks to an audiovisual that explains the historical evolution of the area.
In addition to having all the necessary spaces and services for the attention and enjoyment of the public, the building also has areas suitable for the management and conservation of the cultural assets it houses, such as warehouses with high-capacity furniture, a dock for the reception of works of art and a multipurpose room for preventive conservation.
The exhibition gallery
The main entrance to the Gallery is located on the cornice of the Plaza de la Armería. From this entrance, visitors will begin a descending tour through three exhibition levels to discover the outstanding collecting and patronage role of the Spanish monarchy, as well as the work of Patrimonio Nacional in the conservation, research and dissemination of the rich cultural and natural legacy it manages.
The descent is made through wide ramps where various audiovisual resources that contextualize the collections to be discovered will be shown. In the first room (floor -1), dedicated to the Habsburgs, the tapestry collections and the Royal Armory will dialogue with works by artists such as Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Ribera, Velázquez and Caravaggio. The construction of the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial will occupy a prominent place, as will the founding of the Royal Monasteries, feminine spaces par excellence and symbols of power and patronage.
On this floor, there is a privileged window to the origins of Madrid: the ninth-century wall and the gateway to the city discovered during the construction of the building. The archaeological room offers a historical explanation of the early years of Madrid and the evolution of the city up to the present day by means of a video and various educational resources.
The tour continues on floor 2, dedicated to the Bourbons, which begins with the plans of the new Royal Palace, built by order of Philip V after the fire of the Alcazar, and ends with a model of the Gallery of the Royal Collections, as an epilogue to the great monumental and museum complex of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Themes such as music, royal factories and manufactures, as well as the construction of the Royal Palace of La Granja, are represented through decorative arts, tapestries, musical instruments and furniture, and coexist with works by artists such as Mengs, Goya, Tiepolo, Paret and Maella. At the end of the tour, the visitor is explained the function and role of Patrimonio Nacional, the organization responsible, among other functions, for the conservation and dissemination of the Royal Sites and the Royal Collections.
Floor -3, accessible from the Campo del Moro, is conceived as a more dynamic exhibition space. In addition to housing a temporary exhibition hall, this floor houses a large immersive cube that will serve as a 360-degree projection of the architectural and natural spaces of the Royal Sites.
Practical Information
ADDRESS
Calle Bailén 8, 28013, Madrid
ACCESS
Plaza de la Armería (general entrance) Cuesta de la Vega (entrance for groups and temporary exhibitions)
OPENING DATE
Summer 2023
HOURS
Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 20:00 h. Sundays and holidays, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
When will the Museum of Royal Collections open?
The long-awaited opening of the Galería de las Colecciones Reales (Royal Collections Gallery) already has a confirmed date. According to the announcement made this morning by the Minister of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory, Felix Bolaños, and the president of Patrimonio Nacional, Ana de la Cueva, the big day will be in two months’ time, on June 28. This exciting event will mark a milestone in the cultural life of Madrid and will give art and history lovers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of the royal collections.
The date selected for the inauguration has been carefully chosen, taking into account the completion of the final preparations for the museum and the availability of special guests, including Their Majesties the King and Queen. June 28 will be a day of celebration and excitement, when the doors of the Gallery will be opened to show the public the richness and diversity of the collections, as well as the result of the arduous conservation and restoration work carried out by Patrimonio Nacional.
This cultural milestone has aroused great expectation both nationally and internationally, and it is expected that the Royal Collections Gallery will become a point of reference for lovers of art, history and culture. Located next to the imposing Royal Palace of Madrid, the museum has become a symbol of excellence and beauty, offering a unique experience to visitors.
The Gallery, designed with contemporary architecture and respectful of its surroundings, promises to surprise visitors from the moment they set foot inside. Through its spacious exhibition halls, visitors will be able to admire masterpieces by renowned artists, tapestry collections, the Royal Armory and many other treasures that have been carefully selected for the inaugural exhibition.
The opening of the Royal Collections Gallery is the result of years of planning and hard work. Since the beginning of the project, significant resources have been invested to ensure that the museum is a welcoming, educational and accessible space for all. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the Gallery will also have a room for temporary exhibitions, featuring works by contemporary artists and thematic exhibitions that will enrich the museum’s cultural offerings.
With its inauguration scheduled for June 28, the Galería de las Colecciones Reales is poised to captivate visitors with its impressive collection, innovative architecture and prime location. This new cultural landmark in Madrid promises to be a must-see destination for all those who wish to immerse themselves in the history and art of Spain’s royal collections.
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