There are places that are much more than stone and gardens. The Palacio de las Dueñas, the Seville residence of the Machado family during the poet's early years, represents not only a physical space, but the foundational place of the literary imagination of Antonio Machado. There, among courtyards of myrtles and lemon trees, on 26 July 1875, was born the man who would become one of the most universal poets of our language.
150th anniversary of the birth of the Machado brothers
This year 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Seville poet brothers Machado, Manuel (29 August 1874) and Antonio Machado (26 July 1875). The latter was honoured last 26 July, but the celebration extends throughout the year with different commemorative events.
Their parents, Antonio Machado Álvarez (1848-1893), known as Demófilo – an anthropologist and scholar of flamenco, a pioneer in the compilation of cante jondo – and Ana Ruiz (1854-1939), formed a family deeply linked to intellectuality and culture. They had eight children, five of whom survived: Manuel, Antonio, José, Joaquín and Francisco. All of them breathed art and knowledge from the cradle.
Two poets, two voices, one same tree
The relationship between the brothers was always one of deep respect and mutual admiration. In a dialogue that portrays their poetic personalities, Manuel told Antonio: "Your poetry has no age. Mine does. Your poetry has no time; mine is a deciduous leaf". To which Antonio replied: "Poetry never has an age when it is truly poetry, and yours is"*. Both were right, although time has shown that Manuel was correct in assessing the enduring influence of each on contemporary poetry.
Antonio Machado was elected a member of the Royal Spanish Academy in 1927. In 1931 he wrote his admission speech, entitled What is poetry?, but political circumstances prevented him from reading it. In it he stated: "Poetry is the highest sport of the intellect, but perhaps the most superfluous. Lyric poetry is dying because our inner world has become impoverished". Meanwhile, Manuel Machado joined the Academy on 19 February 1938.
Manuel collaborated closely with his brother in such memorable theatrical works as La duquesa de Benamejí, Juan de Mañara and La Lola se va a los puertos. His poetic work, with titles such as Alma, Cante hondo, Ars moriendi or Phoenix, although with modernist features, is deeply marked by the folklorism inherited from his father. He dedicated poems to the flamenco styles (seguiriyas, soleariyas, tonás, sevillanas), his most famous composition being the one that reads: "Cádiz, salty clarity; / Granada, hidden water that weeps... / And Seville!".
Antonio Machado: the timeless poet
However, as Manuel anticipated, Antonio Machado's poetry "has no time". Timeless, it springs from the soul and connects with universal human feeling, transcending places (Seville, Soria, Baeza, Paris, Madrid...) and eras.
Antonio Machado remains one of the most influential and beloved poets of our literature. His philosophical maxims, put into the mouth of his apocryphal heteronym Juan de Mairena – "No one is more than anyone", "Truth, not your truth, and come with me to seek it; yours, keep it" – sank deep into the popular soul. His high poetry, masterfully popularised by Joan Manuel Serrat, has reached millions of hearts: "Traveller, there is no path, / the path is made by walking"; "My childhood is memories / of a Seville courtyard"; "And in the end, I owe you nothing; / you owe me all I have written"; "These blue days, this sun of my childhood" – this last verse inspired Laura Hojman's magnificent documentary, Los días azules –; and those "Old thirsty olive trees... / Dusty olive groves / of the Andalusian countryside".
His visionary farewell, written before crossing the border into exile, continues to resonate with unstoppable force: "And when the day of the last journey comes, / and the ship that will never return is about to depart, / you will see me on board light of luggage, / almost naked, like the children of the sea"*. A farewell that confirms that his voice, truly, has no expiration date.
An essential exhibition in Seville
On the occasion of this 150th anniversary, the Unicaja Foundation hosts the exhibition 'Seville and Antonio Machado. 150th anniversary of the birth of the poet (1875-2025)' at its Cultural Centre in Seville (avda. de la Palmera, 45).
The exhibition, curated by Antonio Rodríguez Almodóvar, delves into the relationship and influence of the Sevillian city on the life and work of the poet through writings and documents belonging to the Machado legacy. It takes a journey through different milestones in the life of Antonio Machado: his birth, his early childhood and his stay at the Palacio de las Dueñas, among others. Events and places reflected in his poems that show the significance of Seville in the personal and literary development of the author.
The exhibition can be visited until 31 October, with free admission, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and Sundays and holidays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Machadian universe.
Visit the Palacio de las Dueñas, birthplace of the poet Antonio Machado
Of course, no visit to Seville in this Machado year would be complete without going to the Palacio de las Dueñas. This emblematic building, owned by the House of Alba, opens its doors to the public to tour its rooms, gardens and courtyards, where time seems to have stood still.
Declared a Historical-Artistic Monument in 1931, the palace combines Gothic-Mudejar and Renaissance styles, and houses an impressive art collection with more than 1,400 pieces, including paintings, sculptures and tapestries. Walking through its gardens is to enter the same landscape that inhabited the poet's childhood, that Seville Courtyard that he so evoked in his verses.
THE SUN PLACES awaits you in Seville to see the Work of the Machado Brothers
To live this cultural experience in style, THE SUN PLACES awaits you in its exclusive Luxury Apartments in Seville. Imagine ending the day after being moved by Machado's original manuscripts, resting in the comfort and elegance of our accommodations, located in the best spots of the city.
Contact and book your accommodation now with THE SUN PLACES and come celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Antonio Machado. Because there is no better way to honour a poet than by visiting the spaces that his verses inhabited, and doing so from the comfort you deserve.
We look forward to seeing you in Seville!