Palacio de Velazquez (Velazquez Palace), Madrid

Designed by architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, this marvel was constructed between 1881 and 1883 for the National Exhibition of Mining, Metallurgical Arts, Ceramics, Glassware, and Mineral Waters. Today, it’s the only surviving structure from that event—an elegant reminder of a moment when industrial innovation met artistic ambition.

The building itself is rectangular in shape, made up of three connected sections. At the center, there’s a grand entrance with a marble staircase guarded by sphinxes and topped by a beautiful vaulted ceiling of zinc and glass. Large glass panels and iron vaults throughout the structure showcase the architect’s talent for blending light and space. On either side of the main entrance, two quadrangular wings stretch out, each with sloping zinc roofs that complete the design.

The façade was made from recocho brick brought in from Zaragoza, which gives it a textured look with warm tones and slight irregularities. Ceramic accents from the Moncloa Porcelain Factory add extra detail, especially around the arches and decorative spaces. Altogether, it’s a rich blend of 19th-century materials—granite, brick, ceramic, stucco, iron, zinc, and glass—brought together with careful craftsmanship.

The palace was officially opened on May 30, 1883, by King Alfonso XII of Spain and King Luís I of Portugal, marking a proud moment in the country’s cultural and industrial history. Today, it is part of the Queen Sofia National Museum Art Centre, hosting temporary art exhibitions that bring new life to this space.