Casa de America
Casa de America
4.5
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Salamanca (District)
How to get there
- Banco de España • 4 min walk
- Retiro • 7 min walk
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Restaurants
9,073 within 3 miles
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1,311 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
150 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
55
Average
18
Poor
1
Terrible
1
BennyMalaga
Malaga, Spain89,775 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
The Palacio de Linares is the most beautiful palace of Madrid that was used as a residence and that can be seen by the public, although it is open to the public only on Saturdays and Sundays. One has to buy the tickets ahead of time in the El Corte Ingles for guided tours. The building is now owned by the foundation Casa America, which tries to foment cultural ties between Latin America and Spain.
At the end of the 19th century, the Paseo de Recoletos was the place where rich businessmen and aristocrats decided to build their palaces. The land was cleared and buildings previously constructed in the area were expropriated and demolished. The Palacio de Linares was one of these palaces built in the area, ordered by the financier Jose Murga, the Marques de Linares. His father was Mateo Murga, another wealthy financier. The father educated his son to marry only for love, without regard for the wealth or social position of the woman chosen. So Jose Murga married for love and he married Raimunda. What he did not know was that he married his half-sister, because his father had an affair with the woman selling newspapers at the kiosk, and the fruit of that relation was Raimunda. The father lived in London when his son informed him of the imminent wedding, but the heart broken father did not have the courage to tell his son the truth. In 1857, just before he died, the father wrote his son the truth. Pope Leon XIII issued a special bull allowing Jose and Raimunda to marry, but they had to remain chaste after the wedding. The couple may or may not have obeyed the Pope, but they never had children.
To alleviate his pain, Jose decided to build the most opulent palace in Madrid. It took 16 years to finish the palace, using three architects, namely Carlos Colubi, Manuel Anibal Alvarez, and Adolphe Ombrecht. The curved facade has a French design and Colubi was in charge of this, while Ombrecht was to do all the interiors. Alvarez designed the gardens and the Doll House. Jose was to live on the first floor, together with his library and his office. His wife was to live on the second floor.
The main staircase going to the second floor shocks one with its beauty and originality and was designed by Jeronimo Suñol. The balustrade is made of white Carrara marble. The paintings were done by Manuel Dominguez and there are panels on the walls that are dedicated to the Arts, the Sciences, Agriculture and Industry. Floating above them are the Muses and the vaulted ceiling depicts the Four Seasons.
The floors are made of marble of different colors, with beautiful and very intricate designs and different colors inset in marble with other colors. Many of the walls are also made of marble. The furniture is very rich and there are lamps and bronzes from Paris, Antwerp glass, and rugs from the Royal tapestry Factory of Spain. The chandeliers are spectacular and there are huge mirrors everywhere. There are also many paintings by Francisco Pradilla, Manuel Dominguez, and Alejandro Ferrant. The rugs were custom built and most of the time reflect the decorations of the ceilings. There is a large number of sculptures of bare breasted women done in gilt. The ballroom and grand dining room are spectacular. After the visit, one is in a state of shock, after seeing so much beauty. This palace is what an unlimited amount of money, interest, and the finest taste buys. Yes, it was well worth the effort!
At the end of the 19th century, the Paseo de Recoletos was the place where rich businessmen and aristocrats decided to build their palaces. The land was cleared and buildings previously constructed in the area were expropriated and demolished. The Palacio de Linares was one of these palaces built in the area, ordered by the financier Jose Murga, the Marques de Linares. His father was Mateo Murga, another wealthy financier. The father educated his son to marry only for love, without regard for the wealth or social position of the woman chosen. So Jose Murga married for love and he married Raimunda. What he did not know was that he married his half-sister, because his father had an affair with the woman selling newspapers at the kiosk, and the fruit of that relation was Raimunda. The father lived in London when his son informed him of the imminent wedding, but the heart broken father did not have the courage to tell his son the truth. In 1857, just before he died, the father wrote his son the truth. Pope Leon XIII issued a special bull allowing Jose and Raimunda to marry, but they had to remain chaste after the wedding. The couple may or may not have obeyed the Pope, but they never had children.
To alleviate his pain, Jose decided to build the most opulent palace in Madrid. It took 16 years to finish the palace, using three architects, namely Carlos Colubi, Manuel Anibal Alvarez, and Adolphe Ombrecht. The curved facade has a French design and Colubi was in charge of this, while Ombrecht was to do all the interiors. Alvarez designed the gardens and the Doll House. Jose was to live on the first floor, together with his library and his office. His wife was to live on the second floor.
The main staircase going to the second floor shocks one with its beauty and originality and was designed by Jeronimo Suñol. The balustrade is made of white Carrara marble. The paintings were done by Manuel Dominguez and there are panels on the walls that are dedicated to the Arts, the Sciences, Agriculture and Industry. Floating above them are the Muses and the vaulted ceiling depicts the Four Seasons.
The floors are made of marble of different colors, with beautiful and very intricate designs and different colors inset in marble with other colors. Many of the walls are also made of marble. The furniture is very rich and there are lamps and bronzes from Paris, Antwerp glass, and rugs from the Royal tapestry Factory of Spain. The chandeliers are spectacular and there are huge mirrors everywhere. There are also many paintings by Francisco Pradilla, Manuel Dominguez, and Alejandro Ferrant. The rugs were custom built and most of the time reflect the decorations of the ceilings. There is a large number of sculptures of bare breasted women done in gilt. The ballroom and grand dining room are spectacular. After the visit, one is in a state of shock, after seeing so much beauty. This palace is what an unlimited amount of money, interest, and the finest taste buys. Yes, it was well worth the effort!
Written August 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArneHFrandsen
Canton of Geneva, Switzerland158 contributions
Jun 2017
A proper gem if you are a cigar smoker. The Cuban tobacco company runs a smoking lounge in the basement. Not only does it have a proper selection of Cuba's favourite cigars to be enjoyed in the lounge. Well ventilated smoking lounge AND it has one of the best selection of quality rums.
Bravo!!!
Bravo!!!
Written June 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
avrilmc
Northern Ireland, UK58 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
Just stumbled across this building, saw they did tours throughout the day(Saturday). Paid€8, did the tour, just the most amazing building I have seen in Madrid. Not a palace as such but a sumptuous home, beautifully restored , easy to imagine life there as a wealthy couple. Would suggest a visit to see how Madrid society lived.
Written June 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PUMBRIDGE
London, UK2,000 contributions
Jul 2016
Hey, if you want information about the art exhibitions and classical concerts at the Casa de America - an extraordinary place that looks like Herman Munster's house in the Paseo de Recoletos (just a cricket ball's lob from Recoletos station) - look somewhere else.
I'm talking about the open-air bar in the forecourt of this imposing establishment, where - on Friday night in 34 degrees of lovely warmth - we attended a pre-wedding party.
The beer, wine and cocktails flowed, and the conversation rose to giddy heights.
There's a leafy backdrop (you enter through a tropical garden), and you sit around on stools with misters sending clouds of airborne water into the evening air.
The service at the bar, known as Terraza de Cocteleria, Le Cabrera (though I couldn't find the Trip Advisor reference to it) is OK, the prices are steepish, but it's the buzz that was the best bit.
A small bottle of sparkling mineral water was 3euros 50, a small beer 6euros, and we had some food too.
It's really bar snacks.
We had a slate tile with five mini hamburgers (Mini Hamburguesas in Spanish) for 15 euros. OK, but nothing special. It was more like blotting paper than food, but it did the trick.
If you want a lively bar on a warm evening, it's a good choice.
I'm talking about the open-air bar in the forecourt of this imposing establishment, where - on Friday night in 34 degrees of lovely warmth - we attended a pre-wedding party.
The beer, wine and cocktails flowed, and the conversation rose to giddy heights.
There's a leafy backdrop (you enter through a tropical garden), and you sit around on stools with misters sending clouds of airborne water into the evening air.
The service at the bar, known as Terraza de Cocteleria, Le Cabrera (though I couldn't find the Trip Advisor reference to it) is OK, the prices are steepish, but it's the buzz that was the best bit.
A small bottle of sparkling mineral water was 3euros 50, a small beer 6euros, and we had some food too.
It's really bar snacks.
We had a slate tile with five mini hamburgers (Mini Hamburguesas in Spanish) for 15 euros. OK, but nothing special. It was more like blotting paper than food, but it did the trick.
If you want a lively bar on a warm evening, it's a good choice.
Written July 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SPAINDOCTOR
Madrid, Spain5,579 contributions
Jul 2020 • Solo
This house is very elegant
You pay 8 euros
But you get to see a lovely palace
Is located in front of Cibeles
You pay 8 euros
But you get to see a lovely palace
Is located in front of Cibeles
Written July 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guillaume P
54 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
The best thing I have seen in Madrid so far, it is really worth the visiting. Hidden in a palace in front of the palacio of Cibeles, it gives an overview of the late 19th aristocratic way of life, full of marble, gilding and marketry.
The only blame I can give is the unpleasant habbit in Madrid to prohibit pictures to be taken by a staff member following the group of the guided visit...
The only blame I can give is the unpleasant habbit in Madrid to prohibit pictures to be taken by a staff member following the group of the guided visit...
Written July 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hawaii 808
Honolulu, HI470 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Food was good but not great, but the atmosphere is truly memorable. The outside seating, the decorative space heaters, and the foliage in the patio of the grand “Casa de Americas,” makes for a great dining area. The food was reasonable, and some of us liked their dish more than others. Overall a good dinner.
Written October 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LG_Kay
Singapore, Singapore7,488 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
This impressive building occupies one side of the roundabout in Plaza Cibeles. I was intrigued by the beautiful facade, with some sculptures at its top. Classic architecture. I understand it is currently a cultural center to hold exhibitions and screenings. A good spot to take a photo of the entire building is right across the street.
Written August 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane K
Venice, FL4,010 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
There are three things you can do here. Go to an exhibit about the Mexican / America wars (free) or go to the cafe or go to an hour long guided tour. We did the exhibit and the tour. The exhibit had some signage in English and was relatively interesting about the Spanish assistance in building America. The one hour tour cost 5 euros for seniors and were held at 11, 12 or 1. The movie at the start has English subtitles but the tour is given just in Spanish. The home is spectacular - so even though we only knew a little Spanish we still enjoyed the tour.
Written January 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skankis
1,491 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Great museum about the Spanish discovery of the Americas in a beautiful area of Madrid.
Its not huge and you can easily get there by metro or have a bit of long walk from the city centre. Well worth a visit.
Its not huge and you can easily get there by metro or have a bit of long walk from the city centre. Well worth a visit.
Written June 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingCasa de America - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Casa de America
- Hotels near Casa de America:
- (0.05 mi) Luxury Suites
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- Restaurants near Casa de America:
- (0.02 mi) Terraza Tayrona Madrid
- (0.02 mi) Tyrona
- (0.03 mi) Raimunda
- (0.03 mi) Bareto
- (0.05 mi) Restaurante Arrayán
Casa de America Information
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