Casa del Tesoro (Madrid)
The Casa del Tesoro or House Treasury was a former building next to the also former Royal Alcázar of Madrid.
History
During the 16th century, the former Alcázar of Madrid was extensively remodeled to convert what had once been an ancient fortress, in a royal palace able to host the king and his court.
But the ancient medieval castle was not only renovated, but also its dependencies were spreading around: to the south with the construction of the Royal Stables, to north with the plaza del Picadero and the gardens of La Priora, and to east with the construction of the Casas de Oficios (Houses of Offices), the new kitchens and the Casa del Tesoro (House Treasure). As for the latter, these were built from 1568 after buying to Don Bernardino de Mendoza of what hereinafter called the Casa del Tesoro. Subsequently, was acquired the space between the Casa del Tesoro and the Alcázar to build the new facilities of the kitchens and offices. All this new complex had direct communication with the Alcázar by a passageway.
With the founding of the Monasterio de la Encarnación in 1611, the area underwent a major expansion as was built a new passageway linking the monastery with the House Treasure. With this new building, the Kings could directly access to the Encarnación from the palace.
During the reign of Philip V, the Casa del Tesoro was remodeled to install inside the Royal Library, the forerunner of the National Library.
The whole complex was demolished by Joseph Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon) and today in its place is the Plaza de Oriente.
Buried under the plaza were basements and canvases of the building facades and the pavement of the old street of Treasury, on the south side, which disappeared with the construction of the underground parking and tunnel of the calle Bailén.[1]
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