This baroque building, which dates from the 18th century, is the official residence of the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. Despite the fact that neither the King nor the Royal Family live in the Palace, it is still used as the venue for State ceremonies.
Its instigators
Phillip V, the first Spanish member of the Borbón dynasty, ordered that this palace be built to replace the former Alcázar (citadel) of Madrid, which had been destroyed by fire in 1724. Work on the Royal Palace started in 1737, starting with the south-facing façade.
The work on the exterior, most of the interior and part of the ornamentation was concluded during the reign of Ferdinand VI. However, it was Carlos III that undertook the responsibility of finishing the building, also adding a wing in which he was to live. Other later monarchs, such as Isabel II or Alphonsus XII, continued with additional work that was concluded during the reign of María Cristina.
Its architects
The Italian architects Felipe Juvara and Juan Bautista Sachetti designed the Royal Palace. Sachetti simplified the project, making it higher and more rectangular, with an internal courtyard and extending elements on the corners. But he was not the only one to participate in the construction stage. The extensive period of time the work required meant that other architects, almost all of whom were Italian, also took part.
Materials used
The Palace is built of white stone from the town of Colmenar in the Madrid region and with grey granite from the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Rich materials were also used to decorate and ornament it: Spanish marbles, golden stuccos, mahogany wood on the doors and windows and excellent paintings of all kinds, especially the very important frescoes.
The building
Its architecture, which is a French imitation, has Italian proportions. It is a very majestic and beautiful building, enhanced by the wonderful gardens that surround it: the Sabatini Gardens in the north and Campo del Moro in the south.
One of the highlights is its façade, which is inspired by some drawings that Bernini made for the Louvre Palace in Paris. The balconies on the main sections are separated by Ionic columns and Doric pilasters.
Above the main storey is another with no access to the exterior, and above the latter is another storey with windows. There is a white stone balustrade around the cornice. This is where the statues of the Kings of Spain that are currently located in the Retiro Park should be.
Staircase
Designed by Sabatini, it leads up to the main storey.
El Salón de los Alabarderos (Halberdiers' Hall)
Boasting an extraordinary fresco by Tiépolo
Salón de las Columnas (Columns Hall)
It was here that the Spain's EU accession treaty was signed. It is decorated with tapestries from the Royal Tapestry Works.
Sala del Trono (Throne Room)
The dome is decorated with a fresco by Tiépolo depicting an allegory of the Spanish Monarchy. This room has been conserved exactly as it was in the time of King Carlos III.
Salitas Gasparini (Gasparini Rooms)
Three rooms decorated by the Italian artist after whom they have been named: the ante-room, Carlos III's room and the dressing-room. These extremely beautiful and luxurious rooms have veneer marble floorings, walls covered in tapestries woven of silk and silver and Rococo furnishings.
Sala de porcelanas (Porcelain Room)
Sculptures by Bernini and walls covered in tiles from the Buen Retiro Works in Madrid.
Great gala dining-room
The extension carried out by King Alphonsus XII has been conserved. The paintings that decorate the dining-room are by Mengs and his disciples González Velázquez and Francisco Bayeu
The chapel
The chapel was built between 1749 and 1757 by Sachetti and Ventura Rodríguez.
The library
The library holds over 300,000 volumes, including several incunable works. It also holds interesting maps, engravings, drawings and manuscripts.
Royal Armoury
Located on the left-hand side of the Arms Courtyard. Its origin goes back to the private collection kept by King V, which Phillip II transferred to Madrid in the year 1561. It includes some interesting and unique pieces, particularly those dating from Renaissance times.
Other rooms of interest are: The Music Room, the Silver Room and the Musical Instrument Room, which houses two violins, a viola and two violoncellos made by Stradivarius.
Madrid is the capital of Spain. It is located at the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, 650m above sea-level. Its surface area is 531 km2 and it has 5,000,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Madrid Autonomous Community.
The Royal Palace is located at the western end of the Town of Madrid. It is located in a privileged part of the city, with magnificent views out over the Manzanares Valley on one side, with a significant drop in altitude, as well as over the imposing square called "Plaza de Oriente" on the other.
Address:
C/Bailén s/n
Plaza de Oriente
Tel. no. 914548700
Display on GoogleMaps
The earliest human settlements go back as far as Palaeolithic times and it is known that there was a significant population living in the area during the Iron Age. There were no major changes during Romanisation and the Visigothic period. The city was founded in the 9th century when Mohamed I founded an outpost, which he named Magerit, to defend Toledo against Castilian attacks. The city was then divided in two parts: the Alcázar or Almudaina (fortress) and the city with the narrow streets. It then started to grow beyond its gates.
In the year 933, the King of León, Ramiro II, conquered it from the Muslims. The Muslims reclaimed it and it remained in their hands until the year 1085, when it was once again taken by King Alphonsus VI, after which the city's real development began. The charters granted by this King and by Alphonsus VII speak of a rural population, formed by Christians, Jews and Mudéjars. During the reign of Henry IV, the city expanded and the Moorish quarter was formed. The Monastery of the Hieronymites was also founded. During the era of the Catholic Monarchs, Madrid spread southwards, towards La Latina.
The Hapsburg capital
King Carlos I used to spend time in Madrid. He had the Alcázar refurbished and some aristocratic families settled in the city. Phillip II gave the city a new appearance, making significant changes. The population tripled and several civil servants settled there. He gave the city a new appearance: reorganising squares and streets (Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the streets Atocha, Segovia and Mayor) and also commissioned the construction of a new wall.
Phillip III transferred the capital to Valladolid, but embellished the city, rebuilding Plaza Mayor (Main Square) and commencing work on the Jardines del Buen Retiro gardens. Later on, the court was to return to Madrid.
Phillip IV , a great enthusiast of arts and letters, invited artists and literati to come to Madrid and commissioned the building of the last walls, with important gateways: Alcalá, Atocha, Toledo, Segovia. During the reign of the Hapsburgs, few civil palaces were built, but there were many convents and parish churches, of the importance of the Descalzas Reales (Royal Barefoot Nuns), the Encarnación (Incarnation) and the Comendadoras de Santiago (Commanders of Santiago).
Carlos IV remodelled Plaza Mayor (Main Square)
In the early years of the 19th century, after the War of Independence, came the brief reign of Joseph Bonaparte, who also carried out important urban planning reforms, creating more space, light and green areas. He commissioned several squares, such as Oriente, Santa Ana, Santa Bárbara, Las Cortes, Ramales and Mostenses. During the reign of Isabel II, there was a major progressive, bourgeois urban transformation. The Disentailment Act led to the opening of new streets and squares and to the construction of markets and other buildings. Canal de Isabel II was set up to bring water supplies to the city. Other important works were Teatro Real (Royal Theatre), the National Library or the Congress of Deputies, the extension of Puerta del Sol and the inauguration of the Strawberry Train. Expansion project. In the 19th century, the city was the centre of political intrigues, conspiracies, discussions, with major growth and demographic changes. Gran Vía and Ciudad Lineal were opened up in the 20th century. The Metro was inaugurated during the reign of Alphonsus XIII, who also commissioned the University City and the Palace of Postal Services and Telecommunications. The Second Republic proposed that Madrid should grow northwards, prolonging the Castellana boulevard and commencing the construction of the Nuevos Ministerios (New Ministries) areas. During the civil war, some areas were destroyed. Afterwards, the zeal for development and the need for housing accelerated unprecedented urban growth.
The new city was created between the years 1963 and 1987, when it was adapted to vehicle traffic. Some neighbourhoods grew, modern buildings were constructed and several new neighbourhoods were created to house the growing population. Several projects, such as the extension of the Metro network, the Olympic project and the construction of emblematic buildings all speak of a new city.
Military Easter
Celebrated every year on 6th January. The Monarchs and their family receive the highest military authorities and the government at the Throne Room at the Palace. There is great expectation about the ceremony and all of the palace personnel dress up for the event.
Hispanic Day
This takes place on 12th October of each year. The Monarchs organise a gala ceremony to receive the State authorities, as well as numerous businesspeople and representatives from the cultural, artistic and social sectors.
Presentation of Credentials
Approximately once a month, a ceremony is held in which the credentials of the new accredited foreign ambassadors in Spain are presented. It is celebrated with great pomp and ceremony: the ambassadors come to the Palace in old carriages that leave from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ambassador goes in one of these, in a carriage pulled by six horses, and his secretary goes in another, in a carriage pulled by two horses.
The following events are also celebrated at the Palace on a regular basis:
Prize-awarding ceremonies
Hearings
Royal Dinners
Guided visits
Given the great demand for these visits, they must be arranged in advance :
Telephone no. 914548800
Tourist and cultural information hotline
901 300 600
(between 8 and 22 H)
Tourist information for the Community of Madrid
Barajas Airport
International Arrivals
902 100 007
( Between 8:00 and 20:00 H)
Chamartín Railway Station (hall)
Telephone no. 902 100 007
Monday to Saturday: From 8:00 to 20:00 H
Sundays and bank holidays: From 9:00 to 15 H
Atocha Railway Station (Commuter train hall)
Tel. no. 902 100 007
Between 9 and 21 H
City Council Municipal Tourist Office
Plaza Mayor, 3
Tel. no. 915881636. FAX 913665477
Monday to Saturday:From 10:00 to 20:00 H
Sundays and bank holidays: From 10:00 to 15:00 H
City Council
www.munimadrid.es
Spanish National Heritage
www.patrimonionacional.es
