Spain is a garden of impressive architecture, design, art, and history. Every region has a distinctive culture, traditions, tourist attractions, and way of life that create a unique landscape for living or experiencing while visiting.
The region of Murcia stands out due to its impressive beaches, weather, natural parks, and magnificent cuisine, but also thanks to its history, which involves Moorish and Christians fighting for the supremacy of their religion in the peninsula.
In this sense, the Palacio Almudí, an antique building in the city of Murcia, in the region of the same name, is a good piece of historical evidence. This old structure reflects the relevance of the city for the south of Spain, the surroundings and the culture of the people of Murcia.
Below, we discuss everything about this magnificent piece of Murcian architecture so we feed your desire to know a little more about this region of Spain.
Table of Contents:
- Palacio Almudí, a Renaissance Gem in the City of Murcia!
- What Is Palacio Almudí?
- Palacio Almudí Location
- History of the Palacio Almudí
- Palacio Almudí Architecture
- Things to See in the Palacio Almudí
- Enjoy Your Private Paradise in Villa Murcia!
- A Palace You Should Not Stop Visiting
What Is Palacio Almudí?
The Palacio Almudí, or Almudí Palace, is a historic building in Murcia, the capital of the region of the same name. It has almost five hundred years of history, and throughout all its history, it has had several purposes, from a municipal wheat warehouse to an impressive columned exhibition space.
That is precisely what the Almudí Palace is: an interesting art center (Centro de Arte), a national historical archive, and the headquarters of the Department of Culture. It also houses administrative offices and two exhibition spaces.
Through the years, the building has undergone several changes and its plan and architecture, to improve its functionality and relation with the surroundings and the city. The final product is a building with a strong presence in the urban landscape, a real landmark for Murcia, and a delight to the eyes of visitors.
Palacio Almudí Location
As we briefly mentioned, the Palacio Almudí is in Murcia, the capital of the region of the same name, specifically in the Plano de San Francisco, an antique street that nowadays is a big square and promenade.
Address: C. Plano de San Francisco, 8, 30004, Murcia, Spain
Phone: +34 968 35 86 00
Schedule:
- Monday to Saturday: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Sunday and holidays: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Reaching the Almudí Palace is easy since it’s near Murcia’s downtown, specifically 1 kilometer from the center of the city. You can get to the Palace on foot by walking through the Gran Vía del Escultor Francisco Salzillo.
You can also take the railway, which takes around thirteen minutes to arrive at the palace station. If you prefer this transport, you should take the railway at the Cajamurcia Plaza Circular Station and get off at the Murcia del Carmen Station, which is a two-minute walk away.
You can also take buses 37, 44, 62, 7, 72, C5, R14, C1, C3, R12, 1, 6, R17, 21, C2, and C4, and get off at the nearest stops: Malecón, Glorieta de España, San Antolín, Santa Isabel, Gran Vía, Biblioteca Regional, and Murcia del Carmen.
Of course, you can also reach the palace by car. The Glorieta underground car park is fifty meters along the riverbank, opposite the Town Hall. The Almudí is right next to Veronica’s marketplace, which also has the nearest underground parking in front of it.
History of the Palacio Almudí
The history behind the Almudí Palace is really interesting and is over four hundred years old. The palace you can currently see in the Plano de San Francisco is the replacement of the first wheat municipal warehouse that was in the same spot. Besides, a fire destroyed the original warehouse in 1612 after fifty years of operation.
This is how the Palacio Almudí was inaugurated in 1628, showing the economic boom Murcia was undergoing in those years due to the trade in silk.
Two porches were added to the palace’s facade to host urban street commerce over time. However, the city hall destroyed these two porches due to structural issues in the first decades of the 20th century.
At the end of the century past century, a new Palacio de Justicia was constructed in Murcia to give more space to the inner dependencies of the Palace. After this, and following several years of abandonment, this classical building was converted in 1985 to fulfill its present use as an art center.
Palacio Almudí Architecture
The Palacio Almudí is a son of its time. Its architecture is characterized by the Renaissance style, which was very common in Spain in the 17th century. The Resainnace arrived a bit late, over one hundred years after its birth in Italy.
It means two clearly differentiated levels: a strong floor level that remarks the height and proportions of the body with fake Roman columns and a lighter first floor with a clear rhythm and lintels that crown the windows.
Fake Roman Columns in the facade.
If something truly stands out inside the Palacio Almudí is the impressive columned exhibition space, the Sala de Columnas, which was the former grain store. You can see some remains of the Moorish building over which the 16th-century construction.
Still, this upstairs sala is not the only one since the palace has exhibitions divided into two different levels. The palace also has a basement level. In this space, the museum exhibits smaller artworks in a more intimate and warm hall.
The Palacio Almudí today is a piece of history that reflects the architecture of the 17th century and how the economic boom at that time helped to build great buildings, which undoubtedly contributed to the city’s heritage culture.
Things to See in the Palacio Almudí
Although the Palacio Almudí hosts the city archive, it’s better known for its downstairs exhibition space and cultural center. If you’re interested in visiting the exhibition room or the building’s internal and external architecture, you should check the information below before your visit.
Palacio Almudí Murcia Centro de Arte
The Palacio Almudí is likely one of the most interesting places to visit if you’re interested in witnessing new trends in modern art, understanding painting, sculpture, drawings, architecture, and more.
The hall of Tuscan columns entails space for exhibitions, providing a wide space to display and show large-size paintings, sculptures, and installations. This exhibition hall has the benefit of being an open space with no walls, which facilitates the experience and visualization of the pieces of art.
A Relief of the Matrona of Murcia
The facade of the Palacio Almudí features a beautiful relief of a woman caring for a child. She is the Matrona de Murcia, representing the welcoming and kind spirit of the people. Created by Hernando de Torquemada, this artwork is a must-see.
The relief symbolizes the city’s hospitality, with both the citizens and the building inviting visitors. Above the woman is a pelican, which stands for wealth and abundance. You can also see the Habsburg coat of arms, surrounded by two smaller city crests, adding to the building’s historical importance.
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A Palace You Should Not Stop Visiting
The region of Murcia is a land of magnificent landscapes and tourist attractions. Its capital, the homonymous city of Murcia, is a settlement you will probably visit in your wanderings in the zone since the main airport of the region is there.
The impressive museum space of the Palacio Almudí will leave you speechless due to both its column-based architecture and modern art exhibitions. So, we recommend you visit this noble and imposing building when you’re in the city. It’s a good complement to the natural beauties of the region, beaches, national parks, golf courses, and other attractions you can find in every part of Murcia.