We approach the heart of Madrid again, to discover the Cisneros House. Its main façade is located on Sacramento Street number 2, facing Cordón Street, the Plaza de la Villa and Rollo Street. It is located next to the old headquarters of the Madrid City Council, the house currently belongs to the Madrid City Council, although its history has been eventful and it has changed owners on countless occasions. Its name is due to the cardinal Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros, native of Torrelaguna, confessor of Isabel the Catholic, Regent of Castile in 1506 and of Spain in 1516, in both cases after the death of two kings: Philip the Beautiful y Ferdinand the Catholic. He was also the promoter of the University of Alcalá de Henares.

The architect of the palace house was a nephew of the Cardinal, Benito Jimenez de Cisneros, the works began in 1537, although he died before seeing the project finished. The façade is one of the few examples of the Plateresque style in Madrid. In windows and doors we can see Renaissance details; there are not many palaces from the 16th century that have been preserved in the city, which makes their conservation more outstanding.

It was the headquarters of various institutions, such as the Higher War Council or the Austrian embassy. Also residence of famous people such as Pedro Rodríguez de Campomanes, The general Narvaez or Duke of Rivas. Finally, in 1909, the Madrid City Council purchased the Casa de Cisneros from the heirs of the Countess of Oñate (last owners), to expand the house of the village.

Luis Bellido González He was the architect who directed the restoration works, working with the aim of returning the building to its original appearance. In 1915 he built the passage over an arch, through Madrid Street, which connects the Casa de la Villa and that of Cisneros and which gives such a collected appearance to the complex. Later, in 1939, the architect Felipe Dry Wheat He made another renovation of the building and in 1984, Joaquín Roldán Pascual restore the interior.

A new excuse to look into the heart of our city.

A abrazo.