![Palacio Taranco. Museo de Artes Decorativas (Taranco Palace. Museum of Decorative Arts), Montevideo](/img/gd_attr/33491.jpg)
Palacio Taranco. Museo de Artes Decorativas (Taranco Palace. Museum of Decorative Arts), Montevideo
Taranco Palace, located in the heart of Montevideo, now serves as the National Museum of Decorative Arts, showcasing an exquisite collection that epitomizes the Belle époque period. Constructed between 1907 and 1910 by French architects Charles Louis Girault and Jules León Chifflot, the palace was originally a family residence for the Ortiz de Taranco brothers—Félix, José, and Hermenegildo. Designed with luxurious European elements, the building reflects the grandeur of that era through its meticulous architecture and interior design.
The Ortiz de Taranco family inhabited the palace until 1940, after which the property was sold to the Uruguayan government and transformed into a museum in 1972. This museum not only displays the family's vast collection of furniture, paintings, and sculptures but also maintains the original residential ambiance, offering visitors a glimpse into the sophisticated lifestyles of its former occupants.
Key features of the palace include Versailles-style oak flooring, Genoa marble colonnades, and Languedoc marble staircase guards. The interiors are adorned with exquisite boiseries, coffered ceilings, and stained glass, all curated by Maison Krieger of Paris. The dining room proudly displays seven specially commissioned Aubusson tapestries framed in gold, complementing the luxurious decor.
The Taranco Palace boasts a rich collection of European fine arts, including works by notable artists like Ribera, Ghirlandaio, Teniers, Velázquez, and Sorolla. It features significant sculptures, highlighted by a large marble piece by Benlliure, and an array of decorative items such as Baccarat crystal, Sèvres porcelain, and European bronzes. Noteworthy is a 3 x 5-meter silk reproduction of Velázquez's "The Surrender of Breda," made by the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid. The museum also offers a diverse archaeological collection of Greco-Roman, Iranian, and Egyptian artifacts.
Taranco Palace, besides its permanent displays, features temporary exhibitions and cultural events in its indoor areas and beautiful garden, serving as a center for celebrating and preserving Belle époque decorative arts and more.
The Ortiz de Taranco family inhabited the palace until 1940, after which the property was sold to the Uruguayan government and transformed into a museum in 1972. This museum not only displays the family's vast collection of furniture, paintings, and sculptures but also maintains the original residential ambiance, offering visitors a glimpse into the sophisticated lifestyles of its former occupants.
Key features of the palace include Versailles-style oak flooring, Genoa marble colonnades, and Languedoc marble staircase guards. The interiors are adorned with exquisite boiseries, coffered ceilings, and stained glass, all curated by Maison Krieger of Paris. The dining room proudly displays seven specially commissioned Aubusson tapestries framed in gold, complementing the luxurious decor.
The Taranco Palace boasts a rich collection of European fine arts, including works by notable artists like Ribera, Ghirlandaio, Teniers, Velázquez, and Sorolla. It features significant sculptures, highlighted by a large marble piece by Benlliure, and an array of decorative items such as Baccarat crystal, Sèvres porcelain, and European bronzes. Noteworthy is a 3 x 5-meter silk reproduction of Velázquez's "The Surrender of Breda," made by the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid. The museum also offers a diverse archaeological collection of Greco-Roman, Iranian, and Egyptian artifacts.
Taranco Palace, besides its permanent displays, features temporary exhibitions and cultural events in its indoor areas and beautiful garden, serving as a center for celebrating and preserving Belle époque decorative arts and more.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Montevideo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Palacio Taranco. Museo de Artes Decorativas (Taranco Palace. Museum of Decorative Arts) on Map
Sight Name: Palacio Taranco. Museo de Artes Decorativas (Taranco Palace. Museum of Decorative Arts)
Sight Location: Montevideo, Uruguay (See walking tours in Montevideo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: Montevideo, Uruguay (See walking tours in Montevideo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Walking Tours in Montevideo, Uruguay
Create Your Own Walk in Montevideo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Montevideo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Montevideo Old Town Walking Tour
In 1683, the Portuguese founded a city called Colonia do Sacramento across the bay from Buenos Aires. Field marshal Manuel da Fonseca built a fort there he called Montevieu. In 1724, the Spanish governor of Buenos Aires, one-armed Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, forced the Portuguese out and changed the name of the city.
Bruno and the Spanish settlers called their new city "Saint Philip and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Bruno and the Spanish settlers called their new city "Saint Philip and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Prado District Walking Tour
A quiet, upscale barrio El Prado, in the north of Montevideo, is famous primarily for the sprawling park of the same name. Indeed, the city’s main green space, Parque del Prado is a major public venue made up of grassy fields, with the Arroyo Miguelete (Miguelete Creek) running through it, for which the neighborhood has been dubbed "the lung of the city".
Apart from the park,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Apart from the park,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles