Palazzo reale di Madrid
Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the kings of Spain. It was built in the 1700s on the site of the old castle, destroyed by a fire.
From castle to palace
Long before Madrid was the capital, an Arab fortress stood here. In the 1300s it became the alcázar, the castle used by the kings of Castile. Charles I and his son Philip II made it their home.
In 1734 a fire destroyed the castle. King Philip V called in the architect Filippo Juvarra. After his death, his pupil Juan Bautista Sachetti prepared the final plans. The first stone was laid in 1738.
What to see from outside
The palace has a square plan, built around a large courtyard that is also square. The main façade faces the Plaza de la Armería, the great parade ground.
Notice the colours of the stone: dark in the lower part, light in the upper part. The giant columns rise through several floors and give the palace a solemn look.
The life of the kings
The first king to live here was Charles III. Later kings added clocks, furniture, chandeliers and candelabra.
Inside there are painted halls, a royal pharmacy with ceramic jars and a large historic kitchen. State ceremonies are still held here today.
