Archives

The Library, located on the ground floor of the palace, combines original walnut furniture from the reconstruction period with a 1989 renovation that added green bookcases and new decorative elements to the ceiling.
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It is organized in two sections: an upper one for books and a lower one for documents, making it difficult to trace its historical evolution after the loss of funds in 1936.
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Its origin dates back to the 18th century with the definitive arrival of the Fitz James Stuarts in Spain, which were later enriched by acquisitions and contributions from allied noble houses.
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The loss of funds due to the destruction of the palace was mitigated by the acquisition of the Vicente Castañeda Library, highlighted by its bindings and Valencian theme.

The bibliographic tastes of the Dukes of Berwick and Alba throughout the 18th and 19th centuries are reflected in the titles added, especially by Duke Don Jacobo, who significantly expanded the collection.

The Library treasures incunabula and valuable historical and scientific works, including rare editions of the Bible and Spanish chronicles, and covers 18,000 volumes.

Three main display cases stand out: the one for the Bible, for Columbus and Stuart, which house key documents for family history and for Spain, including a 15th century translation of the Bible and the will of Ferdinand the Catholic.

The 37 perimeter cabinets display documents dating back to 1026, offering an overview of family and national history through vehicle privileges and concessions of coats of arms, catalogued by Duchess Doña Rosario in 1898.

The Casa de Alba Archive was formed from documents from more than 50 noble houses, which were reduced to 4,500 files due to fires until the end of the 19th century, and is still one of the most important in Spain.
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Under the direction of Duchess Rosario Falcó and librarian Antonio Paz y Mélia, the Archive was divided into Administrative and Historical collections, reflecting both the stately management and the historical and material importance of certain documents.
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After the destruction of the Liria Palace in 1936, only the Historical Fund survived, now comprised of 474 boxes and 50,000 documents, with a time range from 1026 to the 20th century.
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The significant set of American documents stands out, including autographs of Christopher Columbus and a collection of 250 Coat of Arms privileges granted during the 16th century, as well as an extensive American Fund with 1,100 documents from the 16th to the 18th century.
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The archive includes Spanish royal correspondence, papal documents from the 15th century and the personal archive of the 3rd Duke of Alba, with more than 15,000 letters, offering a unique view of 16th century European history.
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The Lemos Fund provides valuable information on Galician history since 1179, and the Manuscript Fund, with 166 documents from the 14th to the 19th century, stands out for its historical and literary importance, including unique works and correspondence from ambassadors.