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The basilica with Madrid's most striking dome reopens free on Thursdays
The Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande reopens after two months closed and allows free Thursday visits to its dome, alongside works by Goya and Zurbarán.
The Real Basílica de San Francisco El Grande, one of Madrid's most iconic churches, is reopening its doors after two months of intensive restoration work. Located between Puerta de Toledo and the Palacio Real, in the heart of La Latina, the basilica is once again welcoming visitors, with free admission on Thursdays.
The main attraction of this national monument, designated as such in 1980, is its neoclassical dome. With a diameter of 33 metres and a height of 70 metres, it ranks as the largest in Spain and the fourth largest in the world, behind only St Peter's Basilica and the Pantheon in Rome, and Florence Cathedral.
Over the past two months, the dome and wall paintings have undergone extensive restoration, in collaboration with the Comunidad de Madrid and the Escuela Superior de Conservación y Restauración de Bienes Culturales. Now the basilica, owned by the Obra Pía de los Santos Lugares, is once again shining in all its splendour.
As well as its impressive architecture, the church houses works by great masters such as Goya, Zurbarán, Casto Plasencia, Francisco Jover, Martínez Cubells, José del Castillo, Antonio Carnicero, Alonso Cano and Lucas Jordán, among others. A tour of its interior is a journey through the history of Spanish art.
The basilica's usual opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 10:00, and Sundays from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 18:30 to 20:00. The museum can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:30 to 14:30 and from 16:00 to 18:30. General admission costs 6 euros, with a reduced rate of 3.5 euros for minors, pensioners and groups. On Thursdays, admission is free for all visitors.