REAL CASINO DE MURCIA

The Facade onto Calle Trapería, was built in 1902, and designed by the architect Pedro Cerdán Martínez Murcia, who also designed the indoor Market of Verónicas in Murcia, La Casa del Piñón in La Unión and La Casa del Reloj in San Pedro del Pinatar. Its eclectic style has modern and historical influences. On either side of the entrance there is a room with windows from the floor to the ceiling known as peceras (fish tanks), where members like to meet and chat.

Once through the main door there is a small neo-Baroque Vestibule, which masterfully combines different materials and highlights a beautifully coffered ceiling. The crystallized effect on the walls creates a feeling of spaciousness in such a relatively small room.

The popular Peceras with its bay windows decorated by Manuel Castaños have now been restored to their original 1902 style. (Many of Castaños’ ideas were used to decorate the Mansion of Parque Florido, actually the central office of the Museum Lázaro Galdiano, in Madrid.)

Its luxurious neo-Nazarí decoration was also designed by Manuel Castaños and is lined with more than 35,000 sheets of gold leaf. It was inspired by the Patio Door of the Ambassador’s in The Alhambra, Granada. The bright starry dome made of iron and stained glass that covers the hall is the highest part of the building. An Arabic inscription “Nothing greater than Allah” is written repeatedly along its perimeter.

It is a large hall covered by a glass dome known as Patio Largo. Off this hall are several different rooms at a slightly higher level. Originally, this hall was an indoor street that joined the different buildings which make up the Royal Casino, many of which had semi basements above street level. And it is for this reason that the rooms along the central gallery and across the hall, known as Patio Corto, have four steps up to them.

Finishing the Central Gallery you can found the Exedra. In the Exedra the visitor can contemplate a panoramic view of the Royal Casino.

One of the main features of the library is the upper gallery with its beautifully crafted wooden carvings depicting migrating flamingos representing the spirit of the 19th century traveller. The library has a fine collection of 20,000 books dating back to the 17th century. Overhead a skylight provides natural light for the 25 study areas. A curious feature is that the hole of the spiral staircase is covered by stucco paint instead of wood.

Opposite the library is the Salón del Congresillo, an elegant sitting room which was a meeting place for certain upper class circles of the Murcian society, including the Peña del Congresillo, whom the room is named after. Its silk and wood decorations and finely decorated ceiling are outstanding.

The room also holds an important collection of Romantic paintings from the 19th and early 20th century, with works from Manuel Arroyo, Manuel Piccolo, and Obdulio Miralles, one of whose paintings, “La Modelo”, is noted not only for its beauty but for the story that it hides. The artist fell in love with the model and seeing that his love was not returned committed suicide at the age of 27.

It is the most important and lavish room in the Royal Casino, known as the Salón de Baile (The Ballroom). Built between 1870 and 1875 it has an attractive French inspired neo-Baroque design. Five dazzling gold and brass lamps light the Baccarat crystal Hall. These were the first electric lamps to be used in the city of Murcia.

Since its construction the Ballroom has been the brilliant scene of countless festivals of Murcian society. In addition to its sumptuous décor of mirrors, gilded mouldings, relieves and cornucopias, the room also has an inlaid wooden dance floor dating back to 1877 during many a ball, ladies tried to catch the eye of young Murcian gentlemen and danced to music performed by musicians in the upper balconies.

The majestic canvas of exotic landscapes which covers the ceiling, was painted by, among others, Manuel Arroyo and Eduardo Gil Montijano. The dance floor is also the only floor space that has not been replaced during the Ballroom’s many redecorations and restorations.

From the Ballroom you come to the Antesala (Anteroom), a spacious room which leads to the Pompeyano Patio. Here the warmth of the silks and wood is taken over by the cold marble. In this room there are two large paintings of note by the artists Gil Montijano and Sánchez Picazo, “Estudio del pintor” y “Cesto de flores”, plus a nice sculpture by José Planes.

Back into the central gallery the next room is the Tocador de Señoras (The Ladies Room) which takes up some of what used to be the old arms room. The mirrors and silks are outstanding and the lamp shades are the originals embroidered with gold thread from Lorca. The canvas painting on the ceiling is a work of José Marín Baldo, and represents the night and the goddess Selene (the Moon). If you look at the eyes of a winged woman, who is falling from the sky wrapped in flames, they follow you around the room. Up until the refurbishment the Ladies Room was still in use. All the original silver toilet sets have been kept.

In its day it used to be the fencing room, hence the decoration on the windows, but after part of the room was used to make the ladies toilets, the Arms Hall was used as a chess room, among many other uses. There are four big canvases that represent the four seasons. These were painted in 1893 to decorate the Patio Pompeyano.

The Salón de Té (Tea Room) is another splendid room, which on occasions has been used as a dining room and café. During its refurbishment the ceiling, which had collapsed in the late seventies, was restored to its original glory. The Tea Room has two side rooms “El Comedor Español” which is decorated in a Spanish style and the “Salón Inglés” which ceiling was restored to its original 1847 state.

The Patio Pompeyano (The Pompeian Court), a neoclassical style, is covered by an iron and glass dome and has some beautiful sculptures. The replicas of “Danae” and “La Amazona” by Policleto came from the Vatican Museum, not to mention the exceptional “Venus” by José Planes, who won National Sculpture in 1920, sits in the centre of the patio, and “Mujer” by Antonio Campillo.

The Patio Azul (The Blue Court) is one of the areas that have been changed rather than restored during the refurbishment in 2006-2009.The courtyard has been covered with a glass dome, and the walls painted a uniform colour. However, neither change hides the facades of the different original buildings. The Patio Azul has therefore been fully integrated into the main building and heated by the Royal Casino, without losing its reference to its origins as an open courtyard.

Off the Patio Azul is the Sala de Billar (The Billiard Room) with its beautiful wood panelling predominately in geometric patterns. There are four arched windows that let in the light from the Patio Azul. Over the tables there are beautiful lamps that are also heaters thus giving the best conditions to play billiards. The room has held important billiard championships in the past. Curiously, the original furnishing is high enough so you can watch the game in comfort.

On the first floor there is the Sala Alta (The High Room), a spacious room beautifully decorated which looks out on the main facade. This room is used for many purposes in the Royal Casino including exhibitions, music and conferences.

Located on the first floor, along with the Bar, is the Member’s room and the Terrace. Displaying wonderful art collections from local artist, the Member’s room marries old-world and contemporary perfectly. It’s the ideal location to find a quiet corner for a more relaxing break away or in the evenings, a great place for drinks pre or post dinner and some pleasant conversation with fellow members.

We have an extensive drinks list here including Rioja and select local wines. And as you would expect, our wine list is one of the best in the city. Our in-house wine expert will assist toy to pair your chosen dishes with the perfect wines. We also have our typical tapas such as marineras, matrimonios, pasteles de carne, cakes, etc.