Museo Cerralbo, Madrid

We were lucky to find a hotel that was fairly central in Madrid and this museum was literally round the corner from our hotel. Don Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, 17th Marquis of Cerralbo was a spanish aristocrat who had a distinguished career in poliitics and as an archeologist, was a lover of history, literature and the fine arts and passionate collector of objects d'arte. The museum was built to house his collection in a classicist style. Many of the objects were a bit too florrid and ornamental for my taste but they were so over the top that they somehow became OK. This galleon-shaped chandelier is a good example. If you look at it closely you can see the amazing craftsmenship that went into it. Press L button on your keyboard