Madrid in the Age of Goya and the Bourbons
Art, Power and Court Life in 18th-Century Madrid
After the final decline of the Habsburgs, a new dynasty arrived in Spain from Versailles: the Bourbons. Despite the ruin of the state treasury, they embarked on a profound transformation of Madrid. Following the models of the European Enlightenment, the city was cleaned up and modernised: public buildings and monumental squares were constructed, academies and scientific institutions were founded, and the foundations of Enlightenment Madrid were laid.
But, as under the Habsburgs, Spain was not spared the tragedies of history under the Bourbons either. This period witnessed some of the most turbulent episodes in Spanish history: the war against Napoleon, the return of absolutism and the civil wars.
In this dramatic context, Francisco Goya lived and worked in Madrid between 1770 and 1820. It was here that his meteoric rise took place, transforming him from a craftsman into one of the great geniuses in the history of art. The route takes us through the area between the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and the Paseo del Prado, places closely linked to his life and work that today form part of Madrid’s Bourbon heritage.
If desired, the visit can be complemented with admission to the Royal Academy of San Fernando or the Prado Museum, allowing visitors to admire some of Goya’s most representative works: designs for royal tapestries, portraits, scenes of everyday life and enigmatic creations such as the Black Paintings. It is a privileged way to approach one of the key figures in the history of Madrid and the twists and turns of a dynasty that still shapes Spain’s destiny today.
COMPACT TOUR
· Duration: approx. 2 hours
· Minimum group price (1-6 pax.): €140 (Monday to Friday) or €150 (weekends, public holidays, and every day from 8:00 pm). VAT included.
· Recommended itinerary: Plaza de Oriente/Royal Palace (exterior visit), Puerta del Sol, Royal Academy of San Fernando (exterior visit), Paseo del Prado, Prado Museum (exterior visit)
EXTENDED TOUR
· Duration: approx. 4 hours
· Minimum group price (1-6 pax.): €200 (Monday to Friday) or €220 (weekends, public holidays and any day from 8:00 pm onwards). VAT included. Museum admission not included.
· Recommended itinerary: Plaza de Oriente/Royal Palace (exterior visit), Puerta del Sol, Royal Academy of San Fernando (possibility of interior visit), Paseo del Prado, Prado Museum (possibility of interior visit), Retiro Park, Puerta de Alcalá
· Previous purchase of tickets for the Prado Museum: https://entradas.museodelprado.es/
Pre-purchase tickets for the Royal Academy of San Fernando: https://www.rabasf.shop/en/192-entradas-museo
