Palacio del Marqués de Casa Riera facts for kids
The Palacio del Marqués de Casa Riera was the name for two large buildings in Madrid, Spain. They stood in the same spot at number 64 on Calle de Alcalá, which is a very wide street.
The First Palace
The first palace was built in the early 1800s. It was shaped like a long rectangle and had three floors on each side. A large garden led up to the building. This garden was located where an old monastery, the Convento de la Natividad y San José, used to be.
A grand entrance with three doorways and decorated pillars separated the garden from Calle de Alcalá. The palace was built as a special gift for the Duchess of Abrantes. Because of this, people sometimes called it "la casa de los alfileres," which means "the house of the pins."
Many important people lived in this palace. These included the Marquis of Ariza, the Russian ambassador Prince Tatischef, and a famous French businessman named Gabriel-Julien Ouvrard. In 1823 and 1824, amazing parties and banquets were held in its halls. Later, the Marquis of Riera, who was from Catalonia, bought the palace. He spent a lot of money making it even more beautiful inside. The palace and its gardens were very big. It even had another large building for garages and offices on a nearby street, connected by an underground tunnel.
The Second Palace
In 1893, the first palace was taken down. The Marquis of Casa Riera's nephew, Alejandro Riera Mora, then built a new palace in its place. The new building was designed by architect Rodriguez Avial. It was made with strong stone walls, brick, and slate, and had an attic.
Later, in 1917, part of the large garden was used to build the Círculo de Bellas Artes (Circle of Fine Arts). The rest of the garden was removed in the late 1920s.
What Remains Today
After the Spanish Civil War, a new building was constructed on the site of the palace. This building was used by the Secretaría General del Movimiento until 1977. Its front, facing Calle de Alcalá, famously displayed a large yoke and arrows, which was its symbol. The old garden area became a parking lot.
Today, an office building stands there at Calle Alcalá No. 44. You can also get to it through the garden area from Calle Marqués Casa Riera. This modern office building has a simple and elegant design, using stone, marble, and metals. Inside, there are green plants and water features, like a modern fountain in the middle of the courtyard, which reminds people of the original gardens.
On the ground floor facing Calle Alcalá, you'll find the Blanquerna. This is a Catalan cultural center and library. It's named Blanquerna to honor the Catalan origins of the Marquis, who gave his name to the street.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio del Marqués de Casa Riera para niños
