The Royal Palace or Palacio Real of Madrid, although no longer the official residence of Madrid’s Royal family, is one of the largest European Royal palaces and is one of the most beautiful of its kind.
The Royal Palace of Madrid, located to the east of Madrid’s historic centre, is originally the official residence of the Royal family, although now it is used only for state banquets and state events.
The Royal family now resides in Zarzuela Palace which is located on the fringes of the city. The Royal Palace is currently owned by the Spanish state government and is open for public viewing all round the year. The Royal Palace is the largest of its kind in the entire Western Europe and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful.
History of Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid has an interesting history which dates back to the year 1734 when the original Royal Fortress was burnt down on the eve of Christmas. King Philips V then ordered for the construction of a new palace in place of the old one, which was to be built on the model of the Versailles Palace of Paris. As a result, the construction of the present Royal Palace started in the year 1738 based on the designs of Juan Bautista Sachetti, a famous Italian architect of those days. It took 26 years to complete the building and another 100 years to decorate all the rooms of the Royal Palace. King Carlos III moved to this new palace in the year 1764 and the Spanish Royal Family resided here till 1931.
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Interiors of Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace occupies an area of 13 hectares and is a colossal building comprising of 240 balconies, 870 windows, 110 doors and 44 sets of staircases. The interiors of the palace have been decorated with Spanish marble works, mahogany carvings on the doors, gilded stucco work, frescos by artists like Tiepolo, Mengs, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Caravaggio, Giaquinto and many others. The architectural patterns of every single period are clearly visible in the interiors artworks of the palace. None of the rooms have the similar pattern of architectural designs and each of the rooms have been uniquely decorated. Just outside the Royal Palace, one can find the extremely beautiful Sabatini gardens and Campo del Moro, which offers a splendid view of the Manzanares River.
What time to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid?
The Royal Palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Madrid and one can opt for a guided tour of the palace. Art exhibitions are also held in the Royal Palace from time-to-time. The entrance fee to the Royal Palace is 8 euros for all and no extra charges are applicable for visiting the ongoing exhibition. The timings are—October-March 9:30-17:00pm, April-September 9:00 to 18:00pm. On Sundays and holidays the timings are 9:30 to 14:00pm.
The Royal Palace in Madrid is one of the most exciting places to be visited in Madrid and cannot be missed out at any cost.
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