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The private gardens of the Palacio de Liria open to visitors until August
This summer, Madrid will open up one of those places that have almost always remained out of sight. For the first time, the private gardens of the Palacio de Liria will be open to visitors from May to August, allowing access to a space historically reserved for the Casa de Alba and a select few guests.
The opening makes the palace one of the most striking cultural options of the season in the centre of Madrid. Tours will begin on 14 May and will be conducted in small groups, which completely changes the experience: no crowded visits or rushed tours. Here, the idea is to stroll slowly among historic gardens, sculptures, and corners that are usually hidden behind the palace walls.
The Fundación Casa de Alba has organised guided tours focused on both the history of the place and its landscape evolution. Over the centuries, the space has been transformed by architects and designers involved in some of Madrid’s major urban and heritage projects.
In addition to the botanical tour, those who choose the full ticket will also be able to access the interior of the Palacio de Liria and its art collection, featuring works by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, and Titian. There is also the temporary exhibition Noches y días by the artist José María Sicilia, installed in various historic rooms of the building.
The combination of classical heritage and contemporary art fits well with the current mood in Madrid, where more and more cultural institutions are trying to open traditionally closed spaces and offer more exclusive, unhurried experiences connected to the city’s heritage.
Visits will be strictly limited—only 30 people per group—and will take place in the morning, before the heat completely changes the pace of the city centre. This detail also changes the feel of the tour: quiet gardens, fewer tourists, and a very different image of the usual Madrid.
The Palacio de Liria has occupied a unique position in the city for centuries. Surrounded by Chamberí, Malasaña y Conde Duque, it functions almost like a historic island within an ever-faster Madrid. The temporary opening of its gardens not only allows entry into an exceptional private space: it also offers a different way to see the centre—quieter, more hidden, and much less known even to many locals.