Mansion of Mr. Pablo del Puerto

The Mansion of Mr. Pablo del Puerto is one of the last surviving townhouses from the turn of the 20th century along Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. Standing at number 19 on this grand avenue, near Plaza de Colón, it recalls an era when the Castellana was lined with private mansions built by wealthy Madrid families - only a handful of which remain today.

How do you get there?

The mansion sits right in the heart of Madrid, at Paseo de la Castellana 19, a short walk from Plaza de Colón. The easiest way to reach it is by metro to Colón station (Line 4) or Serrano station (Line 4), both just a few hundred metres away. Numerous EMT city bus routes also run along the Castellana, making the location well connected to the rest of the city. Because of its central position, it's easy to combine a visit with a walk past other historic buildings along the avenue.

What's the history behind the building?

The current building was constructed between 1903 and 1905 for Don Pablo del Puerto, who commissioned the expansion and remodelling of an earlier structure on the site. The project was designed by architects Miguel de Olabarría Zuaxuabar and Benito González del Valle y Fernández Galán. Their renovation added two extra floors and the distinctive corner towers that still give the mansion its eclectic, stately silhouette - a style typical of the grand residences that once defined the Castellana.

Over the following decades the building changed hands and uses several times. For a period it served as the headquarters of the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), Spain's securities market regulator. This institutional use is one of the reasons the mansion survived intact, while many neighbouring residences from the same era were demolished to make way for office towers later in the 20th century.

What can you see today?

The façade preserves details typical of early 20th-century Madrid architecture: elaborate stonework, a symmetrical window arrangement, and the corner towers that set the building apart from the more modern office blocks surrounding it. The mansion has since undergone a thorough renovation, converting it into an office building designed to meet Passivhaus certification - one of the most demanding energy-efficiency standards in Europe. The refurbishment was led by architects César Ruiz Larrea and Miguel Ángel Díaz Camacho, and the project is often cited as a successful example of pairing a historic façade with modern, energy-efficient engineering inside.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the mansion now functions as office space, its interior isn't open to the public - the building is best appreciated from the outside while strolling along the Castellana. Weekday afternoons are ideal, when the light falls favourably on the avenue-facing façade and pedestrian traffic in this part of the city is relatively light. It's worth pairing the visit with a walk around nearby Plaza de Colón and the surrounding stretch of the Castellana, where other examples of Madrid's palatial architecture still stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the mansion? No, the building currently operates as office space and isn't open to visitors - it can only be viewed from the street.

Who designed the building? Its present form was designed in the early 1900s by architects Miguel de Olabarría Zuaxuabar and Benito González del Valle y Fernández Galán.

What was the building used for in the past? For a time it housed the headquarters of the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), Spain's stock market regulator.

Is the surrounding area worth exploring? Yes - the mansion stands on Paseo de la Castellana near Plaza de Colón, surrounded by other historic and contemporary landmarks, making this stretch of the avenue a rewarding spot for a Madrid walk.