El Ateneo de Madrid – Cátedra Mayor

Madrid, Spain

The Ateneo of Madrid, constructed by Enrique Fort and Luis Landecho, has been a key cultural institution since 1820. The front of the building, adorned with medallions of Alfonso X the Wise, Cervantes, and Velázquez, belies the spaciousness found within. Its facilities include reading rooms, a lecture hall, and a stunning neo‐Grecian auditorium designed by Arturo Méilda. Throughout its history, the Ateneo has been a vital space for intellectual discourse and artistic expression, with esteemed members like Mesonero Romanos, Castelar, and others gathering in the "cacharrería" for lively debates. The collection of portraits by Rosales and Madrazo is noteworthy, but the ever‐expanding library, with over 200,000 volumes, remains the Ateneo's most valuable asset, open to the public until late hours.