Museo Lazaro Galdiano (Lazaro Galdiano Museum), Madrid

After the passing of José Lázaro Galdiano, a prominent businessman, publisher, and arts benefactor, in 1947, his extensive private collection became a magnificent legacy left to the state. Housed within his former residence, the collection encompasses a staggering 13,000 pieces of artwork and decorative objects, spanning from the 6th century BC to the 20th century.

Visitors will find an exceptional array of artistic treasures, ranging from lesser-known portraits by Goya to an impressive assortment of fob watches, including one worn by Carlos I. Among the most captivating exhibits are exquisitely adorned 13th-century Limoges enamels and "The Saviour", a portrait attributed to a student of Leonardo da Vinci. The museum also boasts works by esteemed English artists such as Constable, Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Turner, alongside masterpieces from the 17th century by renowned Spanish painters like Zurbarán, Ribera, Murillo, and El Greco.

In addition to the museum, this palatial Italianate stone building houses Galdiano's library, which preserves his collection of incunabula and manuscripts. Retaining much of its original interior, the grand property showcases elaborately painted Baroque-style ceilings commissioned by Galdiano himself, each intricately themed to reflect the activities once carried out in those spaces. Many rooms also feature historical photographs, offering glimpses into the past when Galdiano resided within these walls. Recognized as an invaluable cultural heritage site, the building was officially designated as such in 1962.