Velazquez Palace

The Velázquez Palace of the Retiro, in Madrid

The Velázquez Palace is an elegant exhibition pavilion of the Retiro park, with a fine façade of brick and ceramic. The Madrid audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this nineteenth-century building, work of the same architect as the neighbouring Crystal Palace.

The brick pavilion of the mining exhibition

The Velázquez Palace was also built for an event: the national mining exhibition of 1883. It is the work of the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, the same who realised a few years later the famous neighbouring Crystal Palace. Unlike the latter, all in transparency, the Velázquez Palace presents an elegant façade of red brick, enhanced with colourful ceramics, in a style that mixes the influences of the era. Its great luminous hall, topped with glass roofs, makes it a fine exhibition space. Located in the heart of the Retiro park, the pavilion today hosts, like the Crystal Palace, contemporary art exhibitions. A witness of the architecture and the great exhibitions of the nineteenth century, the Velázquez Palace is an elegant building to discover during the walk in the park.

What to see

Here you admire the elegant pavilion built in 1883 for the national mining exhibition by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, with a fine façade of red brick enhanced with colourful ceramics and a great luminous hall topped with glass roofs, which hosts contemporary art exhibitions. The Velázquez Palace is an elegant building of the Retiro in Madrid. It is a pleasant stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Velázquez Palace lies in the heart of the Retiro park, in Madrid, reachable on foot. Access is generally free according to the hours of the park and the exhibitions, which vary. It is best to check the arrangements before coming.

Why was the Velázquez Palace built in Madrid?

For the national mining exhibition of 1883; it is the work of the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, the same as the neighbouring Crystal Palace, and presents an elegant façade of red brick enhanced with ceramics.

Where is the Velázquez Palace of the Retiro?

In the heart of the Retiro park, in Madrid, in Spain.