The Palacio de Liria is the Madrid residence of the House of Alba, one of Spain's oldest and most titled noble families. The 18th-century neoclassical palace was badly damaged during the Civil War and painstakingly rebuilt in the 1950s. It opened to the public in 2019, and the guided tours reveal a staggering private art collection.
The highlights include Goya's portrait of the 13th Duchess of Alba, works by Velazquez, Rubens, and El Greco, and the original first edition of Don Quixote. The palace library holds Columbus's personal journal from his first voyage to the Americas and a letter from Fernando and Isabel.
Visits are by guided tour only (about one hour) and must be booked in advance through the palace website. Tours run several times daily and cost around €14.