Built in Madrid’s Royal Palace complex, finishing off the cornice that overlooks Campo del Moro Park from Plaza de la Armería, this museum takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Spanish Monarchy and the artistic taste of each of its important figures, from the first reigns during the Middle Ages right up to Juan Carlos I.
The museum was inaugurated in June 2023 and has since become National Heritage’s key tool for projecting its cultural activity, as well as serving as a platform for the enormous wealth and diversity of the Royal Collections related to this body. It's also the backbone of any visit to the Royal Palace complex, where it can be accessed from Plaza de la Armería, Campo de Moro Park and Madrid Río Park.
The origins of the Royal Collections Gallery date back to 1935, during the Spanish Second Republic, when the construction project first began. However, this attempt was thwarted by the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. In 1998, the idea was taken up again and the development of the space was approved. The works began in 2006 and were carried out in four different phases right up until 2015. The building, designed by architects Emilio Tuñón Álvarez and Luis Moreno Mansilla, has won several architecture awards, of which a special mention should be given to the COAM 2016 First Prize and the FAD Award for Architecture 2017.
With a total area of 40,475 m2 spread over six floors, the centre houses three exhibition rooms with heights ranging from six to eight metres, a docking area for receiving works of art, six storage rooms, offices, and spaces for technical installations, among other facilities. It's designed with a view of achieving maximum energy savings.
Of the six floors, -3 is the largest (spanning over 3,500 m2) and is located on the lowest level of the building, followed by -2 and -1, which are each spread over 3,000 m2. Moving upwards to Floor 0, which has an area of 2,269 m2, here we can find the main access to the museum. Floors 1 and 2 are smaller in size. The museum therefore has more than 3,200 m2 of space for permanent exhibitions and over 1,300 m2 available for temporary displays.
Opting for a linear model, the museum's architectural structure consists of one main descending route which begins at the entrance located between the Royal Palace, La Almudena Cathedral and the museum itself, and finishes on Floor -3, right by Campo del Moro Park. With a third of the centre’s pieces in constant rotation, the exhibition dialogue never ceases to evolve.
The final step in the development of the Royal Collections Gallery will be to include a café and a space for educational workshops. You can access the building via two entrances: the first is located in Plaza de la Armería (beside the Mirador de la Cornisa observation deck, which offers spectacular views of Campo del Moro Park and Casa de Campo Park), and the second can be found on Cuesta de la Vega. The latter has a space to welcome visitors arriving by car and is universally accessible. Note that the museum will be connected with Madrid Río Park (through the Bonaparte Tunnel, which is currently closed), Plaza de España and Calle Mayor.
A journey through the gallery
After entering via Plaza de la Armería, the exhibition in the first hall (Floor -1) begins with the Catholic Monarchs. Here, we can enjoy the tapestry collections and the Royal Armoury alongside works by Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Ribera, Velázquez and Caravaggio, among others. Also taking centre stage are the Royal Monasteries as female spaces of power and patronage. This floor boasts a privileged insight into the origins of Madrid: a 9th-century wall discovered during the construction of the building which is explained in an audiovisual presentation.
Floor -2 documents the initial plans for the new Royal Palace in Madrid, commissioned by Felipe V after a fire at the Alcázar, and is rounded off with Tuñón and Mansilla’s model of the Royal Collections Gallery. Musical instruments, furniture and decorative arts stand side by side works by Mengs, Goya, Tiepolo, Paret and Maella. The final section features photographic pieces and explains how the State took on the conservation of the Royal Collections, as well as the opening of Royal Sites to the public via National Heritage, a body that was created during the Second Republic.
Floor -3 (which can also be accessed from Campo del Moro Park) could be defined as the 21st-century area. Here, visitors can enjoy an immersive cube, onto which 360º images of architectural and natural spaces at various Royal Sites are screened. The temporary exhibition space can also be found on this floor.
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