Casa-Museo de Machado

Casa-Museo de Machado is a small house-museum in Segovia where the poet Antonio Machado lived between 1919 and 1932. It is the only museum in Spain dedicated to this chapter of his life, set inside a former boarding house on Calle de los Desamparados.

What is this place?

The building was an ordinary rooming house run by Doña Luisa Torrego. Machado moved in a few days after arriving in Segovia on 25 November 1919 to take up a post teaching French at the local secondary school. He paid 3.50 pesetas a day for his room and ended up staying for thirteen years — long enough to write some of his most important poems here, before fleeing the city in 1936 at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

The interior still carries the atmosphere of that era: a plain iron kitchen stove, the shared dining room where boarders once took their meals, and the poet's own room with his original furniture. A small oil heater also survives, a gift from his brother Manuel meant to help Antonio get through Segovia's harsh winters. Several portraits of the poet, painted in different styles by artists including Jesús Unturbe, Álvaro Delgado and even Pablo Picasso, hang on the walls.

How do you get there and when can you visit?

The museum sits right in Segovia's historic centre, at Calle de los Desamparados 5 — a quiet street within walking distance of the cathedral and the Alcázar. It opens Monday and Tuesday from 11:00 to 14:00, Wednesday through Saturday adds an afternoon slot from 16:00 to 18:00, and on Sunday it is only open in the morning, 11:00 to 14:00. Last entry is 15 minutes before closing.

How much does it cost?

General admission with an audio guide costs 4 euros, while a guided visit costs 5 euros. Reduced rates (3 and 4 euros) apply to students up to age 25, retirees over 65 and a few other categories. Guided tours in Spanish run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00; booking ahead is worthwhile since groups are kept small.

What should you know before visiting?

The house is compact, and a visit usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, which makes it easy to fold into a broader walk through the old town — you can head straight on to the cathedral or Plaza Mayor afterward. Since the second half of the 20th century the site has been run by the Real Academia de Historia y Arte de San Quirce, which regularly hosts literary talks and anniversary events tied to the poet.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth visiting the Casa-Museo de Machado if I don't know Antonio Machado's poetry? Yes — even without knowing his work, the museum offers a vivid glimpse of everyday life in early 20th-century Segovia, and the period interior itself is worth seeing.

How much time should I set aside for the visit? Around 30 to 45 minutes. It's a small house with just a handful of rooms, so it won't take up much of your day.

Do I need to book tickets in advance? For a self-guided visit, tickets can be bought on site, but for the guided tours (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00) it's best to reserve ahead, since group sizes are limited.

Is the museum accessible for visitors with reduced mobility? The building is historic and small, so accessibility can be limited — it's worth checking current details directly with the museum or the local tourist office before you go.