Casa de la Entrevista

Updated April 15, 2024

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## Casa de la Entrevista in Alcalá de Henares: historic convent turned cultural hub

On a quiet stretch of Calle San Juan in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Alcalá de Henares, Casa de la Entrevista brings several layers of Spanish history together in one compact stop: a former convent church, the memory of Christopher Columbus’ first audience with the Catholic Monarchs, and today’s main municipal tourist information office with rotating exhibitions.

If you’re planning a day trip from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares, this is one of the smartest first stops in the historic centre—both for what you can see inside and for the practical information you can pick up for the rest of your route.

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## Why it’s called “Casa de la Entrevista”

Casa de la Entrevista occupies what was once the church of the convent of San Juan de la Penitencia, a community of Franciscan nuns founded in the early 16th century by Cardinal Cisneros, one of the key churchmen and royal advisors of his time.

The building’s modern name – House of the Interview – refers to a pivotal political meeting. On 20 January 1486, Christopher Columbus met the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, in the nearby Archbishop’s Palace to present his plans for a westward voyage that would eventually link Europe and the Americas.

A few key points to understand the name and story:

– The interview itself took place in the Archbishop’s Palace, not in this church, but Casa de la Entrevista commemorates that meeting and recreates its setting.
– The house and the adjacent Cardenal Cisneros primary school stand on what was once a single large Mudéjar-style property, later adapted into the convent, with multiple cloistered gardens. Alcalá
– Over time, the convent buildings deteriorated and the nuns moved to Calle Santiago in 1884; only the convent church (now Casa de la Entrevista) and the cloister (now the school garden) survived. Alcalá

Outside, look for the Cisneros coat of arms over the stone portal and decorative details alluding to Columbus—small but meaningful clues to the building’s layered identity. Alcalá

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## From convent church to exhibition hall

After the nuns left, the old convent church fell into disuse until a major restoration in 1968 promoted by the former Instituto de Cultura Hispánica (today part of Spain’s development cooperation agency). Alcalá

Since that restoration:

– The building has been used as an artistic exhibition hall and Latin American–focused library, under the orbit of Alcalá de Henares City Council. Alcalá
– It has also become one of the city’s main cultural venues, hosting painting and sculpture exhibitions, concerts and other events. Alcalá
– Today, it functions jointly as a municipal tourism office and exhibition space, which is how most visitors encounter it.

Architecturally, Casa de la Entrevista keeps the sober brick-and-stone façade typical of historic Alcalá: vertical slit windows, a semicircular stone arch around the wooden door, and a simple volume that hints at its former role as a chapel more than as a palace or civic building. Alcalá

For many travellers, this combination—historic envelope, modern cultural use—is exactly what makes it an interesting, quick but meaningful stop.

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## What you’ll find inside today

Inside Casa de la Entrevista you’ll typically find three things:

1. Tourist information office
– The municipal tourism office here can provide city maps, monument opening hours, public transport details and cultural event leaflets for Alcalá de Henares.
– Staff can also book guided tours and advise on accessible routes and resources, according to the TUR4all accessibility report.

2. Temporary exhibitions and cultural programming
– The main hall acts as a temporary exhibition space, often used for painting, sculpture and other visual arts. Alcalá
– Sources mention regular shows highlighting local and regional artists and themes related to Alcalá’s traditions, as well as small concerts and cultural activities.
– At Christmas, local media have documented a large Neapolitan-style Nativity scene (belén), created with detailed figures and landscapes by local artisans; as always, specific seasonal events can vary year by year. Alcalá

3. The “interview” narrative
– Interpretation in and around Casa de la Entrevista focuses on the meeting between Isabella and Columbus, and some guides note that the original interview room in the Archbishop’s Palace is not normally visitable; instead, the context is explained here via displays.

According to visitor reviews aggregated on major platforms, Casa de la Entrevista typically receives ratings around 4–4.5 out of 5, reflecting a generally positive experience for its exhibitions and usefulness as a tourism office.

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## Planning your visit to Casa de la Entrevista

Jump to nearby attractions

### Location and context

– Address: Calle San Juan 2, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Community of Madrid, Spain.
– The building sits in the historic centre, a short walk from the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral (Magistral), Calle Mayor and Plaza de Cervantes, all key stops on standard World Heritage walking tours of Alcalá.

Alcalá de Henares itself lies roughly 30–35 km northeast of Madrid and is well connected by Cercanías commuter trains; typical journey times from Madrid-Atocha Cercanías station are in the 30–40 minute range.

### Opening hours and potential changes

Accessibility specialists at TUR4all report that the tourism office in Casa de la Entrevista has, at the time of their technical audit, daily opening hours from 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–19:00.

However:

– These hours can change with seasonal schedules, local festivals or special events, and the audit itself does not carry a visible publication date.
– Before you lock in your plans, it’s worth checking the official municipal tourism site or contacting the office directly using the details published there.

### Tickets and costs

Available sources describe Casa de la Entrevista as a municipal exhibition hall and tourism office, and do not mention standard admission fees for entry to the building itself. Alcalá

– That strongly suggests that access to the tourism office and many exhibitions is free, but specific events (concerts, special shows) may have their own ticketing via third-party platforms.
– For any paid events, platforms like Taquilla list dates and prices on a case-by-case basis.

Because pricing structures can change, always verify current conditions on the official event listing or at the tourism office desk.

### Accessibility and inclusivity

Casa de la Entrevista has been evaluated in detail by TUR4all, a platform specialising in accessible tourism. Their technical report notes:

– The resource is considered “practicable for people with reduced mobility”, and has earned a TUR4all accessibility badge.
– Access from the street is via a short ramp (around 89 cm long) with a steep average gradient (~14%) and no handrails; technically, the ramp section is rated as “not accessible”, which may pose difficulties for some wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility.
– Inside, the exhibition room and customer service area are on the ground floor, with flat circulation, non-slip flooring and turning circles of about 150 cm, which supports manoeuvrability for many users with mobility aids.
– Customer service staff receive training on disability awareness and can help with forms or printed materials; assistance dogs are allowed. The resource provides accessible toilets reserved for persons with reduced mobility.

At the same time, the report flags some limitations for blind and Deaf visitors: no audio description in videos, no Braille materials, and no staff member proficient in sign language.

If you or someone in your group has specific accessibility needs, Casa de la Entrevista is relatively well documented, but it is still worth checking the latest report or emailing the tourism office before travelling.

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## Nearby attractions in Alcalá de Henares

Casa de la Entrevista is usually one stop on a broader World Heritage walking circuit through Alcalá’s old town. Guided tours promoted by local operators and the city’s tourism department frequently combine it with:

– Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop’s Palace): the historic complex where Columbus met the Catholic Monarchs; the original interview room is not generally open, but its story is central to Casa de la Entrevista’s narrative.
– Catedral Magistral de los Santos Niños and Plaza de las Bernardas, anchoring one end of the monumental core.
– Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes, the reconstructed birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, which explores the writer’s life and Golden Age domestic culture.
– Calle Mayor and Plaza de Cervantes, atmospheric streets and squares lined with porticoes and historic facades.

Using Casa de la Entrevista as your first stop lets you collect up-to-date information on opening times for all these sites, plus tips on current exhibitions, seasonal events like the Cervantes Train from Madrid, and festival programming such as Noche en Blanco or local patron saint celebrations. en Alcalá de Henares

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## Is Casa de la Entrevista worth your time?

For most visitors, Casa de la Entrevista works best as:

– A practical hub at the start of a day in Alcalá de Henares (maps, routes, tour bookings).
– A short historical stop to understand how Columbus’ early negotiations with the Crown connect this small street to global history.
– A small cultural venue, where you can catch contemporary art or traditional displays that change throughout the year. Alcalá

Given that it is centrally located, generally free to enter, and doubles as the city’s tourism office, it’s an efficient and low-risk addition to any Madrid–Alcalá day trip or longer stay in this World Heritage city.

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