Madrid tenders 2.9 million euros to convert Velintonia into Casa de la Poesía

The Community of Madrid has launched a tender for 2.9 million euros to rehabilitate Velintonia, the former residence of Nobel Prize-winning poet Vicente Aleixandre, to transform it into the Casa de la Poesía.

The project is scheduled to begin in the final quarter of this year, with an expected opening in 2027. This timing coincides with the centenary of the Generation of '27 and the 50th anniversary of Aleixandre receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The renovation will prioritize the conservation of original architectural elements, including the 1927 flooring and the layout established after the 1940s renovations. The ground floor will undergo minimal intervention to preserve its historical finishes, potentially incorporating museum displays and photographs from Aleixandre's era.

To accommodate large groups and school visits without disturbing the original main entrance, a new public access point will be created in the semi-basement via Calle del Atajo. Additionally, the works will include landscaping to preserve the property's garden and Lebanese cedar, alongside mandatory archaeological and paleontological studies due to the site's location in an archaeological zone.