Travesía del Conde Duque

Conde Duque·Universidad

It takes its name from the Count-Duke of Olivares, Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel, favourite of Philip IV, who had his palace in this once-suburban part of Madrid. The name passed to the main street and, from it, to this cross-alley. The attribution to Olivares, set by Mesonero Romanos in the 19th century, has rivals, though: recent research points to the 3rd Duke of Berwick and Liria (also Count of Lemos) as the more likely source, since his family owned the barracks land until 1943. A third theory names the Count of Aranda and Duke of Peñaranda, whose earlier palace may have stood on the site.

Travesía del Conde Duque owes its name to an imposing neighbour: the vast Baroque barracks that fill its whole north front. Philip V ordered it built in 1717 for the Royal Bodyguards and gave the commission to Pedro de Ribera, who designed it in Churrigueresque style around three courtyards. At nearly 59,000 square metres, it is the largest building in Madrid after the Royal Palace; the City Council bought it in 1969 and restored it as a cultural centre. Before taking the barracks' name, the alley lived as three separate streets — San Benito, San Dimas and Medio Cuartillo — that later merged into one. That last stretch vanished along with the lost calle del Arroyo. Today the street begins at the calle de Amaniel and ends at the calle de las Negras, with records of private houses here since at least 1737.

Its names

  • Calle de San Benito (tramo Amaniel-Conde Duque)antes de 1737 – c. 1840
  • Calle de San Dimas (tramo Conde Duque-Negras)antes de 1737 – c. 1840
  • Calle del Medio Cuartillo (tramo Negras-Arroyo)antes de 1737 – desaparecida
  • Calle de Torrijos1840–1845
  • Travesía del Conde Duque1845 – c. 1932
  • Calle del Doctor Zamenhofc. 1932 – 1941
  • Travesía del Conde Duque1941 – actualidad
Sources (10)

Crossings