The master blacksmith will operate the bellows of the forge that bears his name on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to show interested members of the public how he has been working with iron for more than eight decades. These demonstrations complete the visitor experience at the recently inaugurated exhibition at the Royal Mint: ‘Elías de Andrés, 90 Years of Iron’.
For International Museum Day on Sunday, 18 May, there will be a special demonstration at the same time. Free admission to the demonstration with admission to the exhibition.
Segovia, 10 January 2025. Segovian master blacksmith Elías de Andrés will offer blacksmithing demonstrations at the Royal Mint on Saturdays starting on 11 January, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
These demonstrations will enhance the experience of visitors to the Royal Mint, who will not only be able to enjoy a hundred works of art, but also enrich their knowledge of ironwork and the role it has played throughout history.
“Elías de Andrés, 90 Years of Iron” is an anthological exhibition that opened its doors on 20 December with a selection of pieces that have marked the career of this master blacksmith from Espirdo.
De Andrés began his professional career with his father at the age of 7, when he did his first jobs pulling the bellows in the smithy and preparing charcoal for the forge. At the age of 14, he opened his own smithy with his brothers in the city of Segovia, and throughout his career he has worked for national and international clients, becoming one of the Segovian artists with the greatest international presence.
Elías de Andrés's blacksmithing demonstrations are not new to the Royal Mint. In recent years, he has collaborated regularly with his son to showcase his work and allow visitors to enjoy the work of this internationally renowned local master blacksmith. Such is De Andrés's connection with the Royal Mint that the forge in this space has borne his name since 2021.
In these demonstrations, the master blacksmith will create various pieces: knots, daggers, crosses, etc., and visitors will be able to follow the work step by step, enchanted by the sound of the bellows and the hammer.
Special price for residents of Segovia
Access to the exhibition is included in the ticket to the Royal Mint, with a general admission price of €5 and a reduced price of €4. These tickets can be purchased online or in person at the venue itself.
Residents of Segovia city can enjoy, as in all municipal centres since January 2025, a special rate of €1 per ticket and free admission for children under 12. To do so, they must purchase tickets in person at the venues and present their ID card showing their address in Segovia.
Educational centres interested in including this demonstration in their programme can contact the Royal Mint for better organisation of their visit.