Palacio del Duque del Infantado, Madrid

Palacio del Duque del Infantado is an 18th-century city palace in Madrid, standing at Calle de Don Pedro 1 with views over Plaza de los Carros and Carrera de San Francisco, right in the heart of the La Latina district.

How do you get there?

The palace sits in Madrid's historic center, just a short walk from the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande and Puerta de Toledo square. The easiest way in is by metro to La Latina or Puerta de Toledo (line 5), followed by a short walk through the narrow streets of the old quarter. The spot also works well as part of a weekend stroll through the nearby El Rastro flea market.

What's the story behind the building?

The palace originally belonged to the Dukes of Rivas and still preserves its 17th-century exterior structure and internal layout. In the late 18th century the property was acquired by the Duke of Infantado, who carried out a major renovation — which is how the palace got the name it carries today. Since 2000 the building has belonged to the Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU and houses part of the university, including its communication studies faculty.

What will you actually see?

The palace has a C-shaped floor plan, with two main floors, a basement and an attic level arranged around a central corridor. One striking feature is the off-center main entrance: above the balcony's lintel sits the coat of arms of the House of Infantado. It leads into a hallway with a Renaissance doorway that wasn't built on site at all — it was brought over from Calahorra Castle in Granada, making it one of the building's most unusual details, blending Andalusian architecture into a Madrid residence.

Can you go inside?

Because the building currently functions as a university campus, access to the interior is limited and depends on the institution's activity — this isn't a standard sight with fixed opening hours. Still, the façade and the relocated portal are worth seeing from the street while walking through the neighborhood. Madrid's city council has also considered a plan to convert part of the building into a Mahou beer museum, which could eventually open the palace up to a wider public.

When is the best time to visit?

Early evenings on weekdays are the calmest time to explore La Latina, while Saturday mornings bring the extra draw of the El Rastro market nearby. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons temperature-wise — Madrid summers can get intensely hot, which makes long walks through the stone streets of the center less pleasant.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Palacio del Duque del Infantado? The building is currently used by San Pablo CEU University, so regular public tours of the interior aren't available — you can, however, view the façade and portal from the street.

Where does the palace's name come from? From the Duke of Infantado, who bought the property in the late 18th century and rebuilt it into its current form; before that it belonged to the Dukes of Rivas.

What's the most distinctive architectural detail? The Renaissance doorway in the entrance hall, relocated from Calahorra Castle in Granada, along with the House of Infantado's coat of arms above the main balcony.

Is there anything else worth seeing nearby? Yes — the palace sits in La Latina, close to the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande, Puerta de Toledo square, and the Saturday El Rastro flea market, making it an easy addition to a longer walk through this part of Madrid.