Are you preparing to visit or relocate to the city of Madrid—the capital and largest city of Spain—and looking for some fun and interesting things to do and see while you are visiting, attractions that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to see? Do you enjoy art, architecture, history and/or music? If you do, one of the places you should definitely consider visiting is the Conde Duque. Located on the Calle del Conde Duque and very near the Calle de Limon, the Conde Duque offers a fascinating historical experience that is guaranteed to please everyone’s tastes. To illustrate this, below we have provided a brief profile of the Conde Duque, including some information regarding its architecture, location and the attractions located inside and outside of this historic building.
The Conde Duque: Madrid’s Most Popular Cultural Center
The Conde Duque is a structure built between the years 1717 and 1730, a former military barracks that has now been converted into one of Spain’s most treasured and well-visited cultural centers. Tourists visiting this attraction can explore the immense history and diverse culture of Madrid and Spain and may often be treated to live concerts by local musicians. The Conde Duque is a bustling center, one that contains two free museums, including the contemporary art museum; a massive auditorium; the city archives; and various libraries filled with the fiction and non-fiction works of some of Spain’s greatest authors.
If you like music and the fun and excitement of outdoor concerts, the Conde Duque, which holds Classical concerts every Saturday evening in the courtyard, is a wonderful venue. And come summer time, the string quartets are replaced by hot jazz and saucy flamenco singers like Erykah Badu and Cesaria Evora.
The Conde Duque represents a remarkable conversion from 18th century barracks to one of Madrid’s most evocative cultural venues. Its architecture is an eye-opening reflection of the Spanish architecture of yesteryear, before the Italian influence was introduced, as seen with the Royal Palace in Madrid. Two galleries located inside the center display permanent exhibitions of modern art, focusing on new artists, realism, abstract art and art from the school of Madrid. The center also has a vast patio on which an open-air sculpture display can be found at most times throughout the year. Conde Duque is also home to the refurbished Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporaneo, or Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, whose collection includes paintings by the renowned artists Bosch and Francisco Goya, all donated to the center by financial magnate Jose Lazaro Galdiano. Other attractions include a video library and concert venue, where classical and popular concerts are occasionally held.
Conde Duque is conveniently situated in downtown Madrid and is just a short walk from the Plaza Espana. The center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. It is closed on Mondays and all major Spanish holidays. Entry into the facility is free for children and adults.
