Royal Palace of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. Several rooms in the palace are regularly open to the public except during state functions.

The palace is located on the site of a 9th-century Alcázar (Muslim-era fortress), near the town of Magerit, constructed as an outpost by Muhammad I of Córdoba and inherited after 1036 by the independent Moorish Taifa of Toledo. After Madrid fell to King Alfonso VI of Castile in 1083, the edifice was only rarely used by the kings of Castile. In 1329, King Alfonso XI of Castile convened the cortes of Madrid for the first time. King Felipe II moved his court to Madrid in 1561.

The old Alcázar was built on the location in the 16th century. After it burned 24 December 1734, King Felipe V ordered a new palace built on the same site. Construction spanned the years 1738 to 1755 and followed a Berniniesque design by Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Sacchetti in cooperation with Ventura Rodríguez, Francesco Sabatini, and Martín Sarmiento. King Carlos III first occupied the new palace in 1764.

The last monarch who lived continuously in the palace was King Alfonso XIII, although Manuel Azaña, president of the Second Republic, also inhabited it, making him the last head of state to do so.

The palace has 135,000 square metres of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the largest royal palace in Europe by floor area. The interior of the palace is notable for its wealth of art and the use of many types of fine materials in the construction and the decoration of its rooms. These include paintings by artists such as Caravaggio, Francisco de Goya, and Velázquez, and frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Juan de Flandes, Corrado Giaquinto, and Anton Raphael Mengs. Other collections of great historical and artistic importance preserved in the building include the Royal Armoury of Madrid, porcelain, watches, furniture, silverware, and the world's only complete Stradivarius string quintet.

References:

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User Reviews

Chad H (2 months ago)
Beautiful Palace. Easy tour. Get the Audio guide. Non-group entrance is on the side across from the art museum. If the official site shows no tickets available you can buy them from 3rd-party resellers for your day - shop around for the best price. This is well worth the visit. Great history of the Royal family and palace. Would definitely recommend.

Chase Baran (2 months ago)
My visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid was excellent, and I highly recommend checking it out! You get to step into history, and into the same rooms that royalty have passed through for ages. The architecture and history are impressive, and they highlighted very well in the audio tour, which greatly enhanced my visit. You can visit the palace at your own pace, so you can linger in some rooms or pass quicker through others. The armory was closed, during my visit, so be sure to check the schedule if seeing weaponry and armor are important to you. Be sure to also to check out the changing of the guard ceremony, if you can! The marching troops, beautiful horses, colorful uniforms, and fife and drum music is fun to see firsthand!

Hanna Stelmakh (3 months ago)
I recently visited this place, and overall, it was a very impressive experience! Every room is absolutely stunning, with so many intricate details in the interior that you can easily spend hours just admiring the craftsmanship. It truly feels like stepping into a different era, and I was blown away by the beauty of it all. However, I was a bit disappointed to find out that the Armory was closed for restoration during my visit. Unfortunately, there was no information available about this closure beforehand, which was a bit frustrating. It would have been helpful to know in advance so I could plan my visit accordingly. A quick tip for future visitors: I definitely recommend booking your tickets in advance. Even with a ticket, though, be prepared to potentially wait in line due to the large number of people. It seems to be a popular spot, so planning ahead will help make your visit more enjoyable. Overall, despite the minor hiccup, it's a must-see place with so much to offer!

Luke (3 months ago)
An amazing palace was disappointed that the royal armoury was closed on my visit today in August and there was no signed until you got to the ticket counter. I recommend buying a ticket on today’s visits at 1030am on a Wednesday we waited 25 minutes in the sun. I would recommend a guide or the audio guide as there isn’t a great amount of information signs. Each room had one which was both in English and Spanish.

Devansh (3 months ago)
Royal Palace of Madrid, is an architectural and cultural jewel in the heart of Spain's capital. Known for its grand Baroque design and opulent interiors. The palace's exterior is an impressive sight. The state rooms were richly adorned with tapestry and golden accents. When in Madrid it’s a must see. The royal crown and throne room are amongst other highlights.

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