Royal Palace Madrid Guide

The Royal Palace in Madrid is a real castle, for a real living King! The King of Spain uses the palace for parties, special visits and other official events, though he does not actually reside there. The large palace sits inside of the city, and is impressively large. It is open to tourists for a fee and tours are offered in several languages unless, of course, the King is there.

The history of this Palace dates back to the 9th century, when the Islamic Kingdom of Toledo used the spot to build a fortress, which was used by different Kingdoms for centuries. In the 16th century, the fort of Alcázar was built on the same spot, only to be burned to the ground on Christmas Eve, 1734. King Philip V ordered the new Palace be built on this very spot, entirely of stone and brick so as not to be ruined by fire in the future.

Each room of the palace is decorated in a distinct style, though all are royally ornate. No expense was spared during the Palaces construction and Italian marble, frescoes by the famous artists at the time mahogany and precious stones were imported from around the world.

The Palace is also home to an art gallery which includes works by famous Spanish painters such as Goya, and the work "The Horse" by Velázquez. The Palace also has on display stringed instruments made by Stradivari. The Palace is also home to one of the most extensive and important collections of old armor in the world. The collection was re-opened to the public in 2000, and contains pieces dating back to the 13th century.

Perhaps the most impressive room in the Palace is the Throne Room. Constructed by King Charles III in the mid 1700’s, this long room is adorned with large mirrors, chandeliers, gilded furniture and a detailed fresco covering the entire ceiling.

Surrounding the palace are the enormous Palace Gardens. Acres of well-groomed grass and trees stretch beyond the palace, and this park is used by many for recreation and the large square, Plaza Oriente, to the East of the Palace, joins the grounds. A perfect Madrid day would include a tour of the Palace and a picnic lunch in the gardens, followed by a stroll around the Plaza.

Any trip to Madrid deserves a visit to this impressive modern Palace.