History
Built around 1770 to a design by the architect Ventura Rodríguez, it was commissioned by James Fitz-James Stuart, 3rd Duke of Berwick, who was also the 3rd Duke of Liria (hence the name of the palace). In the early 19th century it passed to the inheritance of the House of Alba. On 19 March 1833, a fire broke out at Liria Palace, destroying part of its archive. [1] [2] Eugénie de Montijo, last empress consort of the French, died here in exile in 1920.
All but the facades were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. [3] It was subsequently rebuilt by Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Alba and his daughter Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba who was head of the House of Alba from 1955 to 2014. The British architect Edwin Lutyens had been commissioned by the 17th Duke to provide designs for the interior, and the reconstruction, although it took place after the architect's death, made use of them. [4]
Although the 18th Duchess of Alba's official residence was the Liria Palace, in later life she preferred the Palacio de las Dueñas in Seville, where she died. Her son and heir Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 19th Duke of Alba resides at the Liria Palace. [3] On September 19, 2019, the family decided to open the doors of the palace to the public and allow guided tours. It is one of the few inhabited palaces that can be visited, since Carlos, the current duke, and his brother Fernando reside there. [5]
The gardens
The gardens were designed by prestigious landscapers and architects of the time, such as Ventura Rodríguez himself, Sabatini or the French architect and landscaper Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier. The gardens, originally geometric in French style, were remodeled in the more romantic English style. In the front part, initially conceived as an esplanade, chestnut trees, mimosas, yews and a pomegranate tree were planted. The back of the palace is reserved for the original more geometric garden in the style of Versailles, with flower beds outlined by hedges. It underwent various changes in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1916, the 17th Duke of Alba commissioned Forestiere to recover the 18th-century style of the back part of the garden, which can only be seen from the balconies facing north. At the back there is a pet cemetery and the area is dominated by a pond with an 18th century sculptural group with statues of fantastic animals.
From 2024 you can visit the gardens during the summer months of June, July and August. [6]
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memorials and public buildings. In his biography, the writer Christopher Hussey wrote, "In his lifetime (Lutyens) was widely held to be our greatest architect since Wren if not, as many maintained, his superior". The architectural historian Gavin Stamp described him as "surely the greatest British architect of the twentieth century".
The House of Alba de Tormes, commonly known as the House of Alba, is a prominent Spanish noble family that descended from 12th-century nobility of post-conquest Toledo. The family's claim to Alba de Tormes dates from 1429, when Gutierre Álvarez de Toledo became Lord of Alba de Tormes while serving as Bishop of Palencia.
Duke of Alba de Tormes, commonly known as Duke of Alba, is a title of Spanish nobility that is accompanied by the dignity of Grandee of Spain. In 1472, the title of Count of Alba de Tormes, inherited by García Álvarez de Toledo, was elevated to the title of Duke of Alba de Tormes by King Henry IV of Castile.
María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba GE was one of the most senior aristocrats in Spain, as well as the most titled aristocrat in the world, a record now held by Princess Victoria of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, 20th Duchess of Medinaceli.
Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 14th Duke of Alba, GE was a Spanish aristocrat.
Jacobo Francisco Eduardo Fitz-James Stuart y Colón de Portugal, 3rd Duke of Berwick was a Spanish nobleman. On the death of his father, James Fitz-James Stuart, in 1738, he inherited his titles of Duke of Berwick and Duke of Liria and Xerica. His mother was Spanish, and on her side he was a direct descendant of explorer Christopher Columbus.
Don Carlos Bernardo Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 4th Duke of Liria and Jérica, 4th Duke of Berwick was a Spanish nobleman. Born in Liria, Spain, he was the son of James (Jacobo) Fitz-James Stuart, 3rd Duke of Berwick, and his wife, María Teresa de Silva y Álvarez de Toledo.
The House of FitzJamesStuart, or simply FitzJames, is a noble house founded by James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick. He was the illegitimate son of James II & VII, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, a monarch of the House of Stuart. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the 1st Duke of Berwick followed his father into exile, and much of the family's history since then has been in Spain and France, with several members of the family serving in a military capacity.
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falcó, 17th Duke of Alba, 10th Duke of Berwick, GE, LH, GCVO was a Spanish peer, diplomat, politician, art collector and Olympic medalist. He was one of the most important aristocrats of his time and held, among other titles, the dukedoms of Alba de Tormes and Berwick, the Countship of Lemos, Lerín, Montijo and the Marquessate of Carpio. He was granted the Order of the Golden Fleece of Spain in 1926.
Doña María del Rosario de Silva y Gurtubay, Duchess of Alba de Tormes, 9th Marchioness of San Vicente del Barco, GE was a Spanish aristocrat and socialite.
María Eugenia Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart, 12th Duchess of Montoro, GE is a Spanish aristocrat and socialite. Born in Madrid, she is the youngest and only daughter of Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz and Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba. The Duchess works in public relations for Tous Designer House. Her official seat of residence is at Liria Palace in Madrid, but she also spends time at her property La Pizana in Gerena, in the province of Sevilla.
Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba, GE, is a Spanish aristocrat. He is the head of the House of Alba, one of the most prominent families of the Spanish nobility.
Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Ventimiglia, 15th Duke of Alba, GE was a Spanish nobleman. He was a brother-in-law of Napoleon III through his wife, sister of Empress Eugenie.
Palacio de las Dueñas is a palace in Seville, Spain, currently belonging to the House of Alba. It was built in the late 15th century in the Renaissance style with Gothic and Moorish influences. The palace is one of the major historic homes of great architectural and artistic heritage in the city. The poet Antonio Machado was born here, as were Carlos Falcó, 5th Marquess of Griñón, and the Marquess of Castel-Moncayo. On October 5, 2011, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba, married her third husband here. The palace became a national monument on June 3, 1931.
Carlos María Fitz-James Stuart y Palafox, 16th Duke of Alba, 9th Duke of Berwick GE was a Spanish nobleman and diplomat, who held, amongst others, the Dukedom of Alba and Berwick.
Jesús Aguirre y Ortiz de Zárate, Duke consort of Alba was a Spanish intellectual, but never a Jesuit priest, as was claimed by some, but he was ordained to the priethood and later dispensed by the Holy See. He was a literary editor, and aristocrat minded. After leaving the priesthood, he became the literary editorial director of Taurus Publishing and later held the position of Director General of Music in the Spanish Ministry of Culture from 1977 to 1980. He was married to Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba and head of the House of Alba. In 1986, he went on to occupy Chair "F" of the Royal Spanish Academy, replacing Manuel de Terán Álvarez.
Fernando Juan Fitz-James Stuart y de Solís, 17th Duke of Huéscar, GE, is a Spanish aristocrat. He is the current Duke of Huéscar, and heir apparent to the dukedom of Alba and thereby to the headship of the House of Alba.
María Francisca de Sales "Paca" de Palafox Portocarrero y Kirkpatrick, 16th Duchess of Peñaranda de Duero, also known as Paca de Alba, was a Spanish noblewoman and the sister of Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of the French. She was the 16th Duchess of Peñaranda de Duero in her own right and a Grandee of Spain, and she inherited many other titles from her father. She was also Duchess of Alba by virtue of her marriage to Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, 15th Duke of Alba.
The Palacio de La Moncloa before the Spanish Civil War was the original Palacio de La Moncloa before it suffered damage during the Spanish Civil War and was rebuilt into the current palace with a very different layout from the original.
The Palace of the Dukes of Alba is a ducal palace in Piedrahita, province of Ávila, Spain. The palace was constructed by Jaime Marquet between 1755 and 1766 as a summer residence for the Dukes of Alba, and currently houses a school.
