Palacio de Velazquez
Palacio de Velazquez
3.5
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Salamanca (District)
How to get there
- Parque de las Avenidas • 4 min walk
- Cartagena • 7 min walk
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8,500 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,125 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.
Popular mentions
3.5
183 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
74
Average
54
Poor
10
Terrible
5
Jacqui F
London, UK213 contributions
Jul 2022
This free art gallery, with aircon, displays temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Designed by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, who also created the nearby Crystal Palace, the building is worth a closer look, as well as the art. It’s a cool (in both senses of the word) place to walk around and has nice loos!
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Malgorzata
11,698 contributions
Jun 2021
There is another palace in the Retiro Park, for which the architect of the Crystal Palace is responsible. It is the Palacio de Velazquez, which was built in the 19th century with a view to a national exhibition devoted to mining, metallurgy, ceramics and glass making. Many of the architectural elements of the Palacio de Velazquez are made of ceramics, and the characteristic decorations of multi-colored tiles distinguish the building from traditional brick buildings. Palacio de Velazquez is a wonderful, airy and truly beautiful space to exhibit art in the middle of the Retiro Park. Enter is free.
Written November 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vladimiramirela
Mississauga, Canada1,872 contributions
Sep 2019
Unfortunatelly, it was closed for visitation when we were in its neighbourhood, however, I enjoyed the photo opportunity even from the exterior. It is lavishly decorated with colourful mozaics and Moorish stone lacing, a real eye-pleasing building.
Outside the palace, there is a modest terrace where you can place your food and drinks order and they provide you with a little gadget that will keep buzzing you every time one or your orders is ready. They do have tasty stuff and you can share it with the greedy doves roaming the area. Quite cute place!
Outside the palace, there is a modest terrace where you can place your food and drinks order and they provide you with a little gadget that will keep buzzing you every time one or your orders is ready. They do have tasty stuff and you can share it with the greedy doves roaming the area. Quite cute place!
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
sheepygold
london5,291 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We came to see the Mario Mertz exhibition. The building itself is lovely, especially the beautiful tiles on the exterior. If you come inside there are often contemporary artists being shown. The current display has many unusual and interesting pieces so is certainly worth a look.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK165,953 contributions
Jul 2019
I visited the Palacio de Velázquez during an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Tetsuya Ishida. Much of the work seems to focus around the de-humanising automation of modern work (because breaking you back working in a field was better?). I loved the way the works invoked a feeling despair by workers struggling to adapt to social and technological changes in contemporary life and working demands.
A fantastic exhibition.
The building itself is also worth seeing for it's mix of Neo-Classical and Neo-Mudejar, with it's lovely polychromic brickwork and especially two winged lions at the entrance.
A fantastic exhibition.
The building itself is also worth seeing for it's mix of Neo-Classical and Neo-Mudejar, with it's lovely polychromic brickwork and especially two winged lions at the entrance.
Written August 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom8,230 contributions
Feb 2020
We went to Retiro Park for some down time and a relaxing stroll but discovered that there is in fact a lot to see and do. Palacio de Valezquez is not a must-see and if you only have limited time, then it is better spent seeing the central lake and Palacio Cristal. However for those with more free time, this is worth a stop. Built in 1881-3 for the National Exhibit of Mining, today it holds small, free art exhibitions from the Reina Sophia Gallery.
What you see from the outside are two white winged lions standing sentry at the front steps, colourful traditional tiles and a red and light coloured striped brick façade. Inside it is a bright, airy, white space with glass domes and wrought iron work.
Entry is free and there was no queue. When you go in, you will be asked to wear your backpack on your front and they will also do a quick survey about your visit. Ask for an information sheet before you go any further because there was no other information about the art inside.
When we were there in Feb, the exhibition was a collection of works by Mario Merz, called "Time is Mute". I’m not sure that I would have made a lot of sense of his work on my own but having picked up the information sheet, we pulled it back out and learnt that Merz’s work reflected his opposition to industrialism and capitalist consumption. He was politically active too and was an activist and member of an anti-fascist resistance group, for which he was imprisoned in 1945.
A lot of his works used organic materials such as clay, branches, wax and charcoal and he referenced natural symbols like fire, lightning, animals, the Fibonacci spiral and rivers. Although I’d not heard of him before, he is internationally recognised with works in the National Gallery in Washington DC and London’s Tate Gallery. We spent about 20 minutes here and, all in all, it was a good opportunity to see an exhibition that I’d not have seen otherwise.
What you see from the outside are two white winged lions standing sentry at the front steps, colourful traditional tiles and a red and light coloured striped brick façade. Inside it is a bright, airy, white space with glass domes and wrought iron work.
Entry is free and there was no queue. When you go in, you will be asked to wear your backpack on your front and they will also do a quick survey about your visit. Ask for an information sheet before you go any further because there was no other information about the art inside.
When we were there in Feb, the exhibition was a collection of works by Mario Merz, called "Time is Mute". I’m not sure that I would have made a lot of sense of his work on my own but having picked up the information sheet, we pulled it back out and learnt that Merz’s work reflected his opposition to industrialism and capitalist consumption. He was politically active too and was an activist and member of an anti-fascist resistance group, for which he was imprisoned in 1945.
A lot of his works used organic materials such as clay, branches, wax and charcoal and he referenced natural symbols like fire, lightning, animals, the Fibonacci spiral and rivers. Although I’d not heard of him before, he is internationally recognised with works in the National Gallery in Washington DC and London’s Tate Gallery. We spent about 20 minutes here and, all in all, it was a good opportunity to see an exhibition that I’d not have seen otherwise.
Written December 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel38,439 contributions
Jan 2023
This is a lovely and impressive building, located in Retiro park.
While the museum inside the building was not open to visitors, we enjoyed the lovely architecture of the building.
While the museum inside the building was not open to visitors, we enjoyed the lovely architecture of the building.
Written January 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1TraveltheWorld
Alice Springs, Australia12,198 contributions
Sep 2015 • Couples
The Palacio de Velazquez itself, has nice architecture and décor with coloured tiles.
It is one of many sites to see within the Buen Retiro Park.
Although the contemporary art exhibition is another thing.
I will say no more, you be the judge.
It is one of many sites to see within the Buen Retiro Park.
Although the contemporary art exhibition is another thing.
I will say no more, you be the judge.
Written November 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jane C
Languedoc-Roussillon, France1,614 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
This is neoclassical red brick building from the 1880s. It was built as an exhibition space and named for the architect who designed it. It has a curved glass roof to light it naturally. It is part of the Reina Sofia modern art museum The exhibition which is on at the moment is by Franz Erhard Walther, The exhibition includes many things made with material some of which are designed to be held and moved about! It is rather strange! There are Activations with the artist present until 16th September. It is free to go in and there is a descriptive leaflet in English. You have to see these things with an open mind. Some of the exhibits are beautifully designed and stitched.
Written September 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
OrdinaryJoe&Co
West Wales141 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
A lovely place for a gallery, set in the Parque del Retiro. Entry is free. In essence that is it.
We saw the Franz Erhard Walther exhibition there. In truth we are not art experts, we did thoroughly enjoy the De Prado for instance, but this exhibition was not our thing. You know the story of the little boy and the emperor's new clothes? We felt a bit like that in all honesty, stood there and didn't really get what was artistic with a lot of his stuff. Some was cool, but surely some of his stuff must have been done to see what he could get away with?
In fairness we did enjoy it, but not I suspect in the way the artist intended, we had a bit of a giggle and left.
We saw the Franz Erhard Walther exhibition there. In truth we are not art experts, we did thoroughly enjoy the De Prado for instance, but this exhibition was not our thing. You know the story of the little boy and the emperor's new clothes? We felt a bit like that in all honesty, stood there and didn't really get what was artistic with a lot of his stuff. Some was cool, but surely some of his stuff must have been done to see what he could get away with?
In fairness we did enjoy it, but not I suspect in the way the artist intended, we had a bit of a giggle and left.
Written July 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Palacio de Velazquez (Madrid) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
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- (0.13 mi) Restaurante San Brancato
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