The Islamic wall of Mayrit
Digging for the building exposed a stretch of the ninth-century wall and gate of Mayrit, and it is displayed behind glass on the route through the upper floor.
Luis García (Zaqarbal) — CC BY-SA 3.0 es · Esmailizi — CC0 · Javier Perez Montes — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fernando — CC BY-SA 4.0
The gallery opened in summer 2023 beside the Royal Palace. From the palace esplanade you hardly see it, since you step down into it; from the Campo del Moro gardens below it is a large granite front over the trees. It gathers the Crown's paintings, tapestries, carriages and armour, scattered for centuries among palaces and monasteries. Two floors: Habsburgs above, opening with the Catholic Monarchs, Bourbons below, and a temporary exhibition space. Monumental tapestries, armour, royal carriages, paintings by Velazquez, Caravaggio, Goya and others. The dig uncovered a stretch of the ninth-century Islamic wall and gate of Mayrit, the town Madrid grew from, now behind glass upstairs. Both floors are permanent, but tapestries and works on paper rotate for conservation. On a three-day trip the Prado and the Royal Palace come first; this is for those with more time, or a taste for decorative arts. Wide, air-conditioned halls, sensible on a hot July afternoon. The free evening slot, Monday to Thursday 18:00-20:00, depends on EU citizenship or residence, or Ibero-American citizenship.
Digging for the building exposed a stretch of the ninth-century wall and gate of Mayrit, and it is displayed behind glass on the route through the upper floor.
Its strongest material is the kind you don't get in picture galleries: monumental wall tapestries, royal carriages, armour and palace furniture.
The two buildings are next door to each other, and the joint ticket costs less than buying both separately if you are seeing them on the same day.
Calle de Bailén s/n, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Almudena CathedralThe Almudena is Madrid's young cathedral — its story stranger than its age: Cath1 minute walk4.7
Royal Palace of MadridMadrid's Royal Palace is western Europe's largest working palace: 135,000 square3 minutes walk4.6
Campo del Moro GardensThe Campo del Moro — "the Moor's field" — is the Royal Palace's garden falling t5 minutes walk4.7
Sabatini GardensFormal gardens on the north side of Madrid's Royal Palace, laid out in the neocl6 minutes walk4.7
Museo de San IsidroA small city museum in the old quarter, on the plot where tradition says San Isi7 minutes walk4.7The nearest Metro is Ópera (lines 2, 5 and the Ramal), about ten minutes on foot across Plaza de Oriente and up onto the Armería esplanade; Príncipe Pío (6, 10) is a similar distance. You enter from the Plaza de la Armería itself, the palace's forecourt between the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral off Calle de Bailén, but the gallery has its own ticket desk and is a separate visit from the palace. The Cuesta de la Vega door is for pre-booked groups and temporary exhibitions.
On a two or three-day trip, probably not. The Prado, the Royal Palace and the Thyssen give a first-time visitor more. With four days or more, or if you like decorative arts, textiles and modern architecture, it is a good addition and it is right next to the palace.
Yes, Monday to Thursday between 18:00 and 20:00, for EU citizens, for anyone holding an EU residence or work permit, and for citizens of Ibero-American countries, with proof shown at the desk. So a Gulf visitor buys a standard ticket unless they hold EU residence. The conditions and times change, so check the official site before you go.