Palacio Taranco facts for kids
The Palacio Taranco is a beautiful old building in Montevideo, Uruguay. It stands right in front of Plaza Zabala, in the oldest part of the city. This grand palace was built a long time ago, in the early 1900s. It was designed by famous French architects, Charles Louis Girault and Jules Chifflot León. These same architects also helped design famous landmarks in Paris, like the Petit Palais and the Arc de Triomphe!
Today, the Palacio Taranco is home to the Museum of Decorative Arts. Inside, you can see amazing European furniture and decorations. Sometimes, the government of Uruguay even uses the palace for important meetings.
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History of the Palace
The Palacio Taranco was built on a very old spot. Before the palace, Montevideo's very first theater stood there, built way back in 1793.
Building the Palace
The Taranco Ortiz family wanted a grand new home, so they asked for the palace to be built in 1907. It took three years to finish, and the building was completed in 1910. It was a very fancy home for the family.
Becoming a Museum
In 1943, the government of Uruguay bought the palace and some of its beautiful furniture and artwork. However, it didn't become a museum right away. It opened its doors as the Museum of Decorative Arts in 1972. Just a few years later, in 1975, the Palacio Taranco was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important building for the country's history and culture.
The Museum of Decorative Arts
The Museum of Decorative Arts inside the Palacio Taranco is full of amazing things. It has many paintings, sculptures, textiles, and beautiful European furniture.
Main Floor Collections
On the ground floor and first floor, you can find incredible furniture from the time of French kings Louis XV and Louis XVI. This furniture is very detailed and beautifully made. The museum also displays paintings by famous artists like Ribera, Teniers, and Sorolla. You can also see sculptures by artists such as Benlliure and Landowski.
Ancient Art and Textiles
Down in the basement, the museum has a special collection of Classical Art and Archaeology. This part of the museum shows artifacts from ancient times. You can see old ceramics, glass, and bronze items. These pieces are connected to the art and history of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East. The museum also has a wonderful collection of textiles. This includes beautiful Persian curtains and Flemish tapestries, which are large woven pictures. There are also old containers for ointments, oils, and perfumes.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio Taranco para niños
