Jose Lazaro Galdiano He was an art collector, bibliophile, editor and financier. When he married in 1903, he decided to take up residence in Madrid with his wife, the Argentine Paula Florido Toledo. Thus was born the Florido Park Palace, in honor of his wife. Its construction was not easy, Lázaro Galdiano was a demanding client, nor the famous Jose Urioste that with his participation in the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900 with his Spanish pavilion, he was the fashionable architect, nor his substitute Joaquin Kramer, linked to  Federico Fliedner y Francisco Giner de los Rios, were able to continue the work, due to the intervention of the owner and his continuous changes. He was the Barcelona architect Francisco Borras, who had already worked before for Lázaro Galdiano, who finished the work.

The Palace has a rectangular plan, around a covered patio, to which a portico is attached and at the opposite end a tower with three beautiful rooms. The Plateresque exterior decoration designed by Urioste was not executed and a more sober style was chosen. The building, and the treasures it houses, its valuable art and bibliophile collections, were donated to the Spanish State by José Lázaro. In 1948 the Lázaro Galdiano Foundation was created, the palace became a museum, being inaugurated in 1951.

Fernando Chueca Goitia was in charge of the renovation of the Parque Florido palace to turn it into a museum and together with  Jose Camón Aznar, who was the first director of the Foundation and Museum They managed to create an incredible space, very advanced for the museum conception of the time. And of course, what is heritage if it is not valued? Thanks to these incipient efforts to make an authentic heritage interpretation, the team won and we were all able to enjoy it as it was accessible and interpreted, in a context and a time.

Today, many years later and with more renovations under its belt, it is still a delight. Incomprehensibly, he is not well known by the people of Madrid, who sometimes pass by his door on 122 Serrano Street, oblivious to the wonders that he jealously guards. Another day We will tell you about its wonderful garden, which on many occasions we include in our bicycle route through the hidden gardens of Madrid.

A abrazo.