Palace of Linares

The Palacio de Linares, located in Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, is a magnificent example of neobaroque architecture from the 19th century. Built between 1877 and 1900, the palace was commissioned by José de Murga and Raimunda Osorio, the first Marquises of Linares. The project was entrusted to several architects including Carlos Colubí, Adolf Ombrecht, and Manuel Aníbal Álvarez, who collaborated to create a building of extraordinary elegance and sophistication. The palace is built on land that once housed the Molinos de Plata and the Pósito Real de Madrid, a large grain warehouse intended to ensure the city’s supply in times of crisis. After being closed and unused for almost a century, the palace was reopened in 1992 as Casa de América, a cultural center dedicated to promoting relations between Spain and Latin American countries. The interior of the Palacio de Linares is a triumph of lavish decorations and high-quality materials. The sumptuous main staircase, made of Carrara marble, connects the ground floor with the noble floor. Each room is an explosion of different styles, from Louis XV to Rococo, with walls covered in tapestries from the Gobelins Factory, ceilings richly decorated with gilding and mythological paintings, and floors made of exotic woods. Among the works of art in the palace are masterpieces by artists such as Francisco Pradilla, Alejandro Ferrant, and Manuel Domínguez. A particularly charming element of the palace is the “Doll’s House,” a room decorated in a miniature style that represents a unique example of applied art. This room, along with other luxurious rooms like the Louis XVI music salon, the library, and the smoking room, makes the palace a place of extraordinary beauty and historical interest. The history of the Palacio de Linares is shrouded in a dark legend. According to popular tradition, the Marquises of Linares discovered they were half-siblings after marriage and, to avoid scandal, lived in chastity according to a papal bull. The legend also tells of a secret daughter, Raimundita, who was allegedly killed and whose spirit haunts the palace. Despite the lack of concrete historical evidence, these stories have fueled the collective imagination and contributed to the mysterious charm of the palace. Throughout the 20th century, the palace underwent various changes of ownership and faced demolition several times. After the death of the Marquises, the building passed to Raimunda Avecilla y Aguado, Countess of Villapadierna. During the Spanish Civil War, the palace suffered significant damage but was saved from demolition thanks to its declaration as a historical-artistic monument in 1976. In the 1980s, the palace was purchased by a real estate company and underwent a long and meticulous restoration, preserving its beauty and integrity. In 1992, on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the discovery of America, the Palacio de Linares was transformed into Casa de América, becoming a cultural center of international relevance.