Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid, although now only used for state ceremonies, is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in the city of Madrid. The palace has a floor room of 135,000 square meters (1,450,000 square ft) and has more than 3,400 rooms.

Quick facts

• Name: Royal Palace of Madrid
• Location: Madrid, Spain
• Built: 1735
• Type of attraction: Architectural/Palace
• Ticket price: From $35

The palace is filled with art works, most notable are paintings by artists such as Caravaggio, Juan de Flandes, Francisco de Goya, and Velázquez. Valuable artifacts housed in the palace are also: the Royal Armoury of Madrid, porcelain, watches, furniture, silverware, and the world’s only complete Stradivarius string quintet.

Since the King of Spain now resides in the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the Palace is now used for receptions, state ceremonies, and official actions. The Campo del Moro Park and the Sabatini Gardens surround the Palace.

The first, on the west side of the structure, dates all the way to middle Ages. The Campo del Moro Park is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the winter and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer. Sabatini gardens, which are located on the north side of the house, were quite recent, in comparison, they were built in the twentieth century.

From October to July, the Royal Palace of Madrid’s changing of the guard takes place every Wednesday at 11 a.m. This is a ceremony worth attending.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is open all year for guided and self-guided tours, with the exception of official events.

The typical tour of the Palace would cover following areas:

• Salones Oficiales (Official Halls): Majestic, well-kept, and beautifully appointed, each hall is unique, and the Throne Room is truly breath-taking.
• Armor, shields, and arms of all kinds make up one of the world’s most significant collections at the Armera Real (Royal Armory).
• Farmacia Real (Royal Pharmacy): Hundreds of various sized bottles with beautifully decorated cabinets used to store all sorts of medication transport you back in time. The laboratory is faithfully recreated, which is the best aspect.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is an attraction that is a must when visiting Madrid and you should dedicate at least half a day for it.

Interesting facts about Royal Palace of Madrid

Here are some interesting facts about this historic landmark:

• It took 17 years for palace to be constructed – 1738-1755.
• It was designed in Bernini style – variation of Baroque of the time.
• The main staircase in the palace has more than 70 steps.

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