GUIDED TOUR OF SPANISH PARLIAMENT

AMERICAN CLUB OF MADRID

A guided tour of Spanish Parliament

("Congreso de los Diputados")

Come and see where the ”Diputados” meet, take the President's seat or come up on the dais where the presiding officers overlook the sessions.

Learn a little History of Spain through the History of the “Congreso de los Diputados”, including why there are bullet holes in the walls and ceiling.

June 21, 2022   10:00am-12:00pm

CONGRESO DE LOS DIPUTADOS
Carrera de S. Jerónimo, s/n, 28071 Madrid

Registration required before June 13th

To sign up click here

You'll need to provide an Id. number

(Spanish DNI / NIE or  Passport) upon registering

The Palacio de las Cortes Españolas is the seat of the Congreso de los Diputados, the lower Chamber of the Legislative Branch in Spain. It was built between 1843 and 1850 on the site of the old convent of the Holy Spirit which had already served as meeting place of the Congreso between 1834 and 1841.
On the main façade, a staircase ascends to the neoclassical portico, with six imposing corinthian fluted columns, on which stands the triangular pediment decorated with reliefs by Ponciano Ponzano. The emblematic lions that flank the entrance are the work of the same sculptor and were cast with iron from cannons captured during the African War in 1860.

What does the guided tour consist of?
After entering through the main lobby, called "Queen Isabel II Lobby", you will go through the Hall of Lost Steps, the Clock and Constitution Desks, and then arrive at the Hemicycle, where the plenary sessions are held. There you can see the recently carried out renovation that hid a good part of the famous shots in the ceiling during the coup attempt in 1981.