★★★★★ 5.0
Discover
Royal Palace of Madrid
December 24, 1734—the medieval Alcázar burned to ash. King Philip V's response: build a palace in stone and brick starting in 1738, a project taking 26 years. Look at the rusticated facade facing Plaza de Armería and spot Sabatini's grand staircase—engineered to fix impossible sightlines through the building. Inside, golden Rococo ceilings and Baroque columns frame paintings by Goya and Caravaggio. Walk past the Royal Armory full of medieval weapons, then through halls where Spanish kings held centuries of ceremonies. You're inside one of Europe's largest palaces, still standing nearly 300 years later.
Did You Know?
- :fact: The Royal Palace of Madrid stands on the site of a 9th-century Muslim fortress built by Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied royal sites in Europe—where kings, emirs, and queens have lived for over 1,100 years.
- :fact: The palace’s Hall of Columns is not only famous for its grand balls and royal receptions, but also for the signing of the Treaty of Spain’s accession to the European Community, and it houses a stunning collection of Belgian tapestries and a magnificent vaulted ceiling adorned with classical art.
- :fact: The Royal Palace contains over 3,400 rooms, but only about 50 are open to the public—hidden among them are secret passageways, a royal pharmacy, and a private library with rare manuscripts, making it a real-life treasure hunt for history lovers and families alike.