Introduction
Opened in 1929 as the Municipal Museum, today it is called the Museum of the 
History of Madrid. It is housed in a magnificent building in the style of Madrilenian Baroque, designed by Pedro de Ribera. Previously, it was the Royal Hospice of Saint Ferdinand, a shelter for the poor founded in 1673 by Queen Maria of Austria. The most captivating part of the building is the main facade and portal commissioned by Marquis de Vadillo in the early 18th century. In the central niche stands the figure of Saint Ferdinand, the patron of the shelter, receiving the keys to the gates of Seville. In 1919, the façade, courtyard and side wings of the building were declared a historical monument, and in 1925 the city bought the property. Currently, the building also houses the Municipal Library. The rich history and architectural beauty of this place make it a fascinating destination for visitors.
Visit
You will see over 60,000 exhibits there, among which a model of the city from 1830 by Leon Gil de Palacio deserves special attention. It is one of the oldest models in Europe made in 1:816 scale. Additionally, you will encounter archaeological remains, drawings, photographs, collections of cartographic maps, porcelain from the Royal Buen Retiro Factory, furniture, and unique paintings.
Allegory of Villa de Madrit
There is also the famous “Allegory of Villa de Madrit” by Francisco Goya. The history of this painting is truly fascinating. In 1809 the council of the City of Madrid proposed the commissioning of a portrait of the new French monarch of Spain, Joseph I. Unfortunately, Goya did not know what the new king looked like; he only had an engraving of the king’s face made in Rome. The artist designed an intelligent composition based on the allegory of the city. A woman of harmonious proportions, wearing a crown, dressed in a white tunic and a pinkish cloak, leaning against a shield with the coat of arms of the city of Madrid. She is pointing to a majestic oval where the artist painted the face of Joseph I. Meanwhile thru various historical events the king Joseph I fled the city, and Goya hastened to paint over the Frenchman’s face with the slogan “Constitución“. Meanwhile king Ferdinand VII returned to Spain which meant that Goya had to substitute the writing with a portrait of Ferdinand. Ten years after the death of Ferdinand VII, the city of Madrid requested the covering of the portrait with the inscription “Libro de la Constitución” (“Book of the Constitution”) until in 1872 it was definitively replaced with the phrase “Dos de mayo” (“Second of May”) which we see today. In this way, history has come full circle, the image has gone from glorifying the French king, to paying tribute to the inhabitants who opposed the French occupation.
In addition to the above, in the museum you can see what the everyday life of the city looked like from 1561 to the present day.
Planner
How to get to: metro Tribunal L1, L10
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