Palacio de Gaviria

The Gaviria Palace or Palacio de Buena Esperanza was completed in 1851. It was originally the private residence of Manuel Gaviria, marquis of the House of Gaviria, and his family. The building was designed by the architect Álvaro Bouquel, inspired by the Quattrocento, albeit its interior showcases details from a diversity of architectural styles, alluding to Al-Andalus art, the Catholic Monarchs, Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece, as well as tributes to bullfighting. Originally the Palace was a residence, but at different periods in history it has functioned as a multipurpose space. Thus, it served as headquarters for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War; and later on, it has been used as ministerial offices, customs and excise centre, and a space for entertainment and private events. February 2017 the Palace launches its foray into its current role as an Exhibition Centre, housing M.C. Escher and Alphonse Mucha retrospectives, the collective exhibition ‘20th Century Revolutionaries. Magritte, Duchamp, Dalí. Masterpieces from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem’ and ‘Tamara de Lempicka. Queen of Art Déco’. In addition, the Patio Andaluz, second of the Gaviria Palace Exhibition Centre’s gallery spaces, has welcomed very successful shows such as ‘I Love Lego’, for all the family.