Voces del Prado

1995. When someone burned down the Murillo entrance

Pedro Álvarez Moreno, Head of the Area of Works and Maintenance, 1994-2009

There were some really significant moments at the Museum during all that time. Someone burned down the Murillo entrance. Apparently it was in revenge for something. We don’t know who it was. It’s a solid entrance, a fantastic doorway, like all the entrances to the Museum. The Museum’s entrance doors are the original ones. And that was very important as it was restored by staff at the Museum: the carpenters, the locksmith, José de la Fuente. It was an unexpected and big thing that shouldn’t have happened. But it allowed the Museum staff to demonstrate their ability to solve problems at the Museum. It also showed their quality. Really, I have to emphasise that the Museum’s staff and the people I’ve had the most contact with (the maintenance staff) are outstandingly professional. So this meant we had to install a temporary doorway at the Murillo entrance, which I designed, and which remained there for almost two years. It was a metal door and the head of security was delighted with it. He said: “I’m not going to have any problems here.” It’s true, he was delighted with it.