6 curiosities of the Royal Palace of Madrid: history and interesting facts

When planning your trip to Madrid, Royal Palace It is a must-see, not only to see the enormous exterior dimensions of the building, but also to take a tour of its historic halls.

El Madrid's Royal Palace It is a huge building located in an enclave of great beauty.

On its west façade, the renovated Plaza de Oriente; to the north, the Sabatini Gardens; to the west, the Gardens of Campo del Moro; and to the south, the Cathedral of the Almudena.

Keep in mind that the Madrid's Royal Palace It is considered due to its dimensions, 135.000 square meters, the largest palace in Western Europe.

How many rooms and rooms does the Royal Palace have?

The fact that inside there are almost 3.500 rooms and rooms serves as a reference.

But, without a doubt, the A big attraction When it comes to visiting its interior, compared to the vast majority of the palaces and castles that we usually visit on our trips through Europe, the Madrid's Royal Palace its alive".

In this regard I mean that it continues to be used by Kings of Spain for numerous ceremonies and official events, although you should know that the current Monarchy has never lived in the palace building.

History of the Royal Palace of Madrid

El Royal Palace What you can see now is not a very old building.

Construction began in 1738 to replace the old Royal Palace building.

In the Christmas Eve In 1734, said palace suffered a great fire whose flames did not go out until four days later, which almost completely destroyed it.

Origins of the Royal Palace of Madrid

Indeed, origins of the Royal Palace of Madrid They date back to a fortress built by the Arabs in the 9th century, known as the quarterdeck.

After the conquest of Madrid by the King Alfonso VI In the year 1085, the old Alcazar It became the residence of the different kings.

Over the years the old arabic fortress Madrid It was remodeled and expanded, and became the headquarters of the Imperial Court when Felipe II decided in 1561 that Madrid would be the capital of the Empire.

When was the current Royal Palace of Madrid built?

For the construction of new Royal Palace, Philip V, who reigned when the city was destroyed in 1734. old Alcázar of the Austrias, finally opted for the Italian architect John Baptist Sachetti.

However, from 1760, when Carlos III became new King of Spain, the construction of Royal Palace he assumed it Francisco Sabatini, who also expanded the initial project.

El Madrid's royal palace began to be inhabited by Carlos III 1764 the year.

It later became the residence of successive spanish kings, until Alfonso XIII, in 1931, left Spain before the arrival of the Second Republic.

Where does the King of Spain reside?

As I mentioned before, neither Juan Carlos I nor King Philip VI have resided in Royal Palace, having his residence in Zarzuela Palace, in the Monte del Pardo.

When visit the Royal Palace, you can enjoy some halls of great majesty and beauty, such as, for example, the Throne room, Gasparini Hall, Porcelain Room and Gala dining room.

Throughout the visit you will be able to see samples of the great artistic wealth which is preserved in the Madrid's Royal Palace, with paintings, sculptures, porcelain, tapestries and metalwork.

Royal Armory of the Royal Palace, one of the best collections in the world

During your visit you will also be able to see the Royal Armory, considered one of the two most important in the world along with Vienna, and where a large collection of armor and weaponry originating from the 15th century is displayed.

What are the gardens of the Royal Palace of Madrid

And, if you wish, you can walk through the great grounds that surround the great building of the Royal Palace, of course, the gardens of the Plaza de Oriente, but also those of Sabatini or those of Moor's Field.

More information about the Royal Palace of Madrid

• Official website of the National Heritage
• The best things to see when visiting the interior of the Royal Palace of Madrid
• How to visit the Royal Armory of the Royal Palace of Madrid
• Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace
• How to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid: schedules and ticket prices