Biblioteca Nacional (National Library)
Spain's national library near Plaza de Colón, holding over 15 million items and housed in a grand neoclassical building from 1892.
Welcome to the magnificent Biblioteca Nacional de España, Spain's National Library, an imposing bastion of knowledge near Plaza de Colón. As you stand before its grand neoclassical façade, you observe the intellectual heart of a nation, preserving centuries of Spanish thought. Inaugurated in 1892, this majestic edifice is a living monument to Spain’s cultural legacy, hinting at the invaluable treasures held within. Your journey into its story begins in 1712, when King Philip V founded the Royal Public Library to make knowledge accessible. Renamed Biblioteca Nacional in 1836, its purpose broadened. By the mid-19th century, the burgeoning collection, enriched by confiscated monastic libraries, demanded a grander home. Francisco Jareño y Alarcón designed this structure, completed by Antonio Ruiz de Salces, which proudly opened its doors in 1892, alongside the National Archaeological Museum. Observe its dominant neoclassical style: rigorous symmetry, the imposing portico with its grand staircase, and stately Corinthian columns.