Godoy Palace

The Palacio de Godoy, located in the heart of the Los Austrias district in Madrid, is a fascinating testimony of Spanish history from the 18th century. Built between 1776 and 1782 commissioned by Charles III, the palace was designed by the architect Francesco Sabatini, known for his contribution to numerous monumental buildings in the capital. Originally intended to house the Secretary of State, the palace is named after its most famous resident, Manuel de Godoy, the favorite of King Charles IV and Spain’s prime minister. The structure of the palace is a classic example of neoclassical architecture, characterized by a symmetrical and rigorous facade. Its construction involved the use of stone and bricks, combined in a style that Sabatini had already experimented with in other Madrid projects, such as the Real Casa de la Aduana. The building initially included a monumental staircase that visually expanded the space, a distinctive element of Sabatini’s design and a symbol of the grandeur of the era. Manuel de Godoy, a controversial figure in Spanish history, lived in the palace during his period of greatest power. Godoy, appointed “Prince of Peace” for his role in treaties with France, decorated the interior of the palace with precious marbles, frescoes, and valuable works of art, including paintings by Francisco Goya. During his residence, the palace became a center of power and luxury, hosting high-level parties and receptions. After Godoy’s fall from grace and the subsequent French occupation, the palace underwent numerous changes in its use. It was occupied by Marshal Murat during the Napoleonic occupation and later transformed into the headquarters of the Real Biblioteca. In the 19th century, the building housed various ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of the Navy and the Naval Museum. This period of transition culminated in 1931, when a part of the palace was demolished to allow for the widening of Calle Bailén. The Palacio de Godoy was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1962 and in 2000 was included in the list of Cultural Interest Assets. Today, the building houses the Center for Political and Constitutional Studies, an institution dedicated to research and analysis of political and constitutional sciences. This transformation has allowed the preservation of the building and its adaptation to modern needs, while maintaining its historical and cultural value. An intriguing aspect of the palace is the discovery, made in 2019 during renovation works, of archaeological remains belonging to the part demolished at the beginning of the 20th century. These findings have added an additional level of interest to the already rich history of the building, offering a window into the past and the urban transformations of Madrid.