Patrimonio Nacional has reopened to the public the Antesacristía and the Sacristía of the Palacio Real de Madrid this Wednesday, which had been closed to tourists for over forty years. Both spaces are included in the Palace’s visit, both guided and self-guided, and have museographic support.
According to Patrimonio Nacional, the reopening of the Antesacristía and the Sacristía will allow visitors to explore the Royal Chapel in a more contextualized way and discover the spaces where the liturgical services were prepared and the liturgical objects were kept. The Antesacristía houses an 18th-century fountain, an Isabeline mirror, and neogothic-style seats. The display cases showcase various elements of the Royal Chapel, such as a dalmatic – a type of liturgical vestment, a set of candlesticks and an altar cross, or a baptism set from the early 19th century.
Also on display are religious-themed paintings by different schools. In the Sacristía space, several 18th-century sculptures are exhibited, such as ‘The Immaculate Conception’ by Manuel Álvarez, the Greek, or the delicate group of ‘The Fall of Christ’, sculpted in ivory by Celedonio Nicolás de Arce.
Standout paintings include ‘Christ and the Samaritan Woman’ by Orazio Gentileschi; ‘Saint Joseph with the Child’ by Antonio de Pereda; ‘Christ dead mourned by two angels’ by Charles Le Brun, and ‘Christ served by the angels’ by Pablo de Céspedes.
With the addition of the Antesacristía and the Sacristía to the tourist route, Patrimonio Nacional continues its policy of opening new spaces to visitors, as it has done in recent months at the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial or the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso. The Royal Palace of Madrid, with its one and a half million annual visitors, is the most visited monument of Patrimonio Nacional.