Palacio de Linares

The Palacio de Linares stands on the Plaza de Cibeles in central Madrid, a lavish palace begun in 1877 at the wish of the Marquesses of Linares, José de Murga and Raimunda Osorio, and completed around 1900. Designed by architects including Carlos Colubí and Manuel Aníbal Álvarez, its limestone exterior and richly decorated interiors, with a celebrated marble staircase, Flemish glass, Parisian bronzes and paintings by leading Spanish artists, make it one of the finest examples of late nineteenth-century aristocratic architecture in the capital. Since 1992 it has housed Casa de América, a public institution promoting cultural ties between Spain and Latin America.

The palace is well known in Madrid for a persistent legend surrounding the marquesses and a supposed hidden family secret, later dramatised in recordings and media that claimed to capture ghostly voices, among them a child. These stories circulated widely in the late twentieth century but rest on hearsay and unverifiable recordings; they are best understood as urban legend attached to a grand and mysterious-seeming house rather than as established fact.

The building's genuine value lies in its architecture, decorative arts and its present role as a cultural centre. Restored and repurposed, the Palacio de Linares hosts exhibitions, talks and events, and remains a significant landmark in Madrid's ceremonial heart.

The Palacio de Linares operates as the seat of Casa de América and is open to the public as a cultural centre, with exhibitions, film screenings and events, many of them free. The historic interiors can be seen on guided visits offered on a scheduled basis; times and prices should be confirmed in advance through the institution.

Because it is a working institutional venue in a protected historic building, access to certain areas depends on programming and guided-tour availability, and visitors are asked to respect the spaces, follow guides and observe any photography restrictions.