The Royal Palace

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The Royal Palace

 

The Royal palace of Madriddates back to the IX century when the iIslamic kings of Toledo ordered the construction of a fort to protect the city. Today the palace is used by the royal family for state ceremonies. .

The building has been theofficial residence of the Kings of Spain from the Kingdom of Charles II, to Alfonse XIII and lately it has also been used as residence by the presidents of the Republic.

Since the '40s, it is under the tutelage of a national organism called Patrimonio Nazionale, and is now open to public and used for public ceremonies or acts in which King Juan Carlos I takes part .

The royal palace is with no doubt the most important building raised in Madrid in the XVIII century, which had to mirror the spirit of renovation undertaken by the nation, as well as the greatness and power of the Spanish monarchy.

The palace develops all around a largesquare- shaped courtyard.Various materials have been used for its construction:pgranitefor the façades, white stone of Colmenar and marble for the relieves and decorations.

Behind the palace are visible theMoorish Gardens..
Their current aspect follows the rules of the English landscape style, with two beautiful fountains, Triton’s, and las Conchas.

The palace bulk is really impressive, with 2.800 rooms of which only 16 are open to the public.
In particular, the apartments of Charles III represent at their best the glories of the royal court of that age.
The antechamber keeps 4 portraits ofCharles IV and Queen Mary Louise, painted by Goya .

The room “Gasparini”, where the king used to dress up with the help of his courtesans takes its name from the Italian artist who made the decorations, and it is full of mosaics and stuccoes in rococo style, precious silks and pompous decorations.

The“yellow room” was reserved to ladies-in-waiting , and was the place where they used to have a tea and make conversation while men were busy smoking and talking of business in the “porcelain room”.

To be visited also the queen’s apartments in neoclassical style, and the splendid English park called “Field of the Moor”, dating from 1890 and rich of citron trees, magnolias, chestnut trees and acacias.

 

Useful info:

Address: Calle Bailen
Tel. 0034.91.4548800
Price: 3,5/9 euro
Winter opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 17.00pm, Sunday and public holidays from 9 am to 14 pm.
Summer opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 18.00pm, Sunday and public holidays from 9 am to 15 pm.
www.patrimonionacional.es

Underground station: Opera lines 2, 5
Bus: lines 3,25,39,148

 

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Places not to miss in Madrid:

 

» The Royal Palace

» Plaza Mayor

» National Museum Prado

 

» National library

» Art center Reina Sofia

» Almudena Cathedral

» Casa de la Villa

» Metropòlis

» Fuente de la Cibeles

» Thyssen-Bornemisza museum

» Palacio de Cristal

» Plaza de la Villa

» Plaza de Oriente

» Plaza Monumental de las Ventas

» Puerta de Alcalá

» Puerta del Sol

» Templo de Debot

 

With more Time

 

» Banco de España

» Cason del Buon Retiro

» La Casa de Postas

» Real Casa de Aduanas

» Convent of San Idelfonso de Trinitarias Descalzas

» Fuente de Apolo a Madrid

» Fuente de Neptuno

» Iglesia Colegiata de San Isidro

» Muralla de Madrid

» Palacio del Congreso

» Palacio del Senado

» Puente de Segovia

» Puente de Toledo

» Puerta de Toledo

» Sociedad general de Autores a Madrid

Surroundings of Madrid