The Cerralbo Museum (Museo Cerralbo) is among Madrid’s lesser-known museums yet one that boasts one of the city’s finest exhibitions of visual arts. Tour the lavish rooms of the museum, which was once the family home of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, the 17th Marquis of Cerralbo and an avid art collector. Admire works by Old Masters, attend concerts and enjoy guided tours for visitors of all ages.
Constructed in the late 1800s, the museum building is a classical-style palace with an elegant façade characterized by architectural features such as balustrades, pediments, pillars and pilasters. Over 50,000 artifacts, which range from ceramics, coins and paintings to sculptures, tapestries and weaponry, adorn the palace’s rooms. They reflect the artistic preferences of the era and offer an authentic glimpse at Madrid’s nobility. See works by notable painters such as Anthony van Dyck, Francisco de Zurbarán and Tintoretto.
A grand staircase leads to the palace’s mezzanine. Look for the coat of arms of the Marquis of Cerralbo and paintings by Antonio de Pereda. The mezzanine is where the marquis and his family would have spent most of their time. Pass between his bedrooms, the dining room and soberly decorated reception halls.
The first floor is the most opulent part of the palace and where no expense was spared in the ornamentation of the rooms. Browse examples of knight’s armor and swords in the armory. Still life paintings by Cristoforo Munari and Giuseppe Recco hang on the walls of the banquet hall, where 19th-century politicians and aristocrats convened.
Live classical, jazz and symphony music performances take place throughout the year in the museum’s halls and garden. There are also specialized tours for different age groups, which give both children and adults the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various art concepts.
The Cerralbo Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and there’s an admission fee. Located in the Moncloa-Aravaca district, the museum is easy to reach using Madrid’s public transportation system. Catch the metro to Plaza de España station, which is only 5 minutes on foot from the museum, or walk for 20 minutes from Puerta del Sol.
