Palacio de Gaviria Reopens With “Dalí Infinito”: Madrid’s New Must-See Exhibition
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
News of this reopening caught my attention immediately, and it's now at the top of my list for my next trip to Madrid. I've identified with Dalí's work for decades, going back long before I ever thought I'd write about travel. I've been drawn to Dalí's work for decades, and the Dalí museum in Montmartre is one I recommend to nearly everyone I know planning a trip to Paris. I haven't been to the Palacio de Gaviria yet myself, but I plan to go directly there the next time I'm in Madrid, and I wanted to share what I've learned about it in the meantime.
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Palacio de Gaviria: A Little History Behind the Palace
Long before Dalí arrived, the Palacio de Gaviria was already one of Madrid’s great showpieces. Built between 1846 and 1847 for banker Manuel Gaviria y Douza, the palace was designed by architect Aníbal Álvarez Bouquel and modeled after the grand Renaissance palaces of Italy. When it opened in 1851, Queen Isabel II herself presided over the inaugural ball, a hint at just how lavish this building was considered in its day.
Inside, the palace still preserves its original 19th‑century drama: thirteen rooms, sweeping staircases, and frescoes by Joaquín Espalter y Rull, including the ceiling of the ballroom, which remains one of its most striking features.
The palace's story didn't end with the frescoes and the royal ball, though. From 1991 to 2011, the palace operated as one of Madrid's most popular nightclubs, its nineteenth century ballrooms and frescoed ceilings serving as the backdrop for two decades of Madrid nightlife. I missed it by a year as a student, and even later, when I visited my cousin during his own semester studying in Alcalá de Henares in 2001, we never made it there. Our one real night out in Madrid that trip was a fiesta de poetas thrown by one of his friends in the Barrio de Salamanca, which is its own story entirely. It's a strange kind of continuity all the same, a building built for royal balls in the 1850s, repurposed for disco lights in the 1990s, and now restored once again as a museum. Few venues in Madrid can claim quite that range.
Dalí Infinito: The Palace’s New Identity
After a deep restoration and years of limited use, the palace reopened on 25 March 2026 with a new purpose: to house Dalí Infinito, a permanent exhibition dedicated to Salvador Dalí’s sculptural work.
This is Dalí’s lesser‑known side, the three‑dimensional universe he explored from 1973 onward, represented here through 14 monumental sculptures from the Clot Collection. These pieces come from one of the artist’s most experimental periods, where technical precision meets the dreamlike logic that defined his imagination.
The sculptures are distributed across the palace’s rooms, each space highlighting a different facet of Dalí’s creative personality. Travelers may recognize some of the standout works:
Elefante cósmico
Mujer desnuda subiendo escalera
Cabeza de caballo riendo
Cristo de San Juan de la Cruz
Alma del Quijote
Ama de Llaves
The exhibition also includes original drawings that trace Dalí’s recurring themes, mythology, literature, religion, science, and a complete display of his celebrated graphic series for Dante’s Divine Comedy (1959-1960).
The result is a full portrait of Dalí’s late creative world, staged inside a palace that feels purpose‑built for surrealism.
Where It Is
The exhibition is housed in the Palacio de Gaviria, right on Calle Arenal 9, steps from Sol and Ópera. It’s one of the easiest cultural stops to add to any Madrid itinerary: no metro transfers, no long detours.
Hours and Tickets
Open every day:
10:00-20:00
Last entry: 19:00
General admission: 15 €
Reduced: 11 €
Purchase Tickets Here: https://entradas.coleccionclot.com/
It’s one of the most flexible museum visits in the city, perfect for a pre‑dinner stop or a rainy‑day pivot.
How Long the Exhibition Runs
“Dalí Infinito” isn’t a short pop‑up. It’s a long‑term (effectively permanent) installation anchoring the palace’s new life as a Dalí‑focused museum. Expect it to remain for years, not months.
What’s Coming Next
The museum hasn’t announced its next temporary exhibition yet, but the direction is clear: rotating Dalí‑related shows and special programs that build on the palace’s new identity. As more rooms open, expect additional thematic displays and curated experiences.
I'll be back with a full report once I've finally stood in front of these sculptures myself. Until then, if you find yourself near Puerta del Sol on your next trip to Madrid, consider this your nudge to go see what I'm still waiting to see.
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