10 reasons why you should visit the Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the most visited monuments in Spain and an essential stop during your trip to Madrid. Built in the 18th century by the Bourbon dynasty, it is the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Covering an area of 135,000 m², it houses 3,418 rooms—almost twice as many as Buckingham Palace in London or the Palace of Versailles in Paris. If you want to know why visiting it with Pancho Tours is a must, keep reading.
1. The Palace of Madrid is built on the site of the former Royal Alcazar of Madrid
Did you know? The Royal Palace of Madrid was built on the foundations and grounds of the former Royal Alcázar. The Royal Alcázar of Madrid served as the royal residence until 1734, when much of the palace was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin on Christmas Eve. The only surviving part was what is now preserved as the Treasury Palace.
Throughout its history, the Alcázar underwent several renovations, most notably those carried out by Philip II, the most significant of the Habsburg kings, who made it his residence until moving to El Escorial.
The fire provided an opportunity for the reigning Bourbon monarchs to demolish the remains and build a more modern palace in line with the tastes and aesthetics of the era. Thus, in 1738, under the reign of Philip V of Spain (the longest-reigning Spanish monarch), construction of the new Royal Palace began. The works were completed during the reign of his successor, Ferdinand VI. Several architects oversaw the project at different stages, including Filippo Juvara, Juan Bautista Sachetti, Ventura Rodríguez, and Francesco Sabatini, after whom the famous palace gardens are named.
2. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King and Queen of Spain
Although the current King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia Ortiz, do not live there, the Royal Palace remains the official residence of the Spanish monarchy. It is used by the royal family for state ceremonies and official events.
Instead, King Felipe VI resides at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, located on the outskirts of Madrid, in a building adjacent to the main complex, built in 2002. His parents, the Emeritus King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, also live there in the main residence. The complex also houses the offices of the Royal Household and King Felipe VI’s personal office.
3. The Royal Palace houses the crown and the Royal scepter
In the so-called Crown Room, which was once Queen Maria Christina's Chamber, the symbols of the Spanish constitutional monarchy—the Royal Crown and Scepter—are displayed. The room is adorned with tapestries representing the four seasons and was renovated in 2014 for the proclamation of King Felipe VI.
The current Royal Crown dates back to the reign of Charles III. It is made of chiseled, embossed, and gilded silver. The scepter is even older, dating back to the reign of Charles II. It is crafted from rock crystal, gilded silver filigree, enamel, and set garnets. Both symbols have been emblems of the Spanish monarchy since the reign of Isabella II.
4. The Royal Palace of Madrid is called Palacio de Oriente in honor of the Plaza of the same name
The Royal Palace is also called Palacio de Oriente, despite being located in the westernmost part of Madrid. The name comes from its location in Plaza de Oriente, which was developed after the palace was built. The square got its name because it is situated to the east of the royal building.
Plaza de Oriente was originally intended to be a grand avenue leading directly to the palace, as envisioned by Joseph Bonaparte. However, it was later developed into the large square adjacent to the palace that we see today. If you visit the square, don’t miss its impressive collection of statues depicting twenty Spanish kings—five Visigothic and fifteen from various Christian kingdoms—arranged along the central gardens.
5. The Royal Palace of Madrid contains the most important collection of Stradivarius
Many visitors are unaware that the Royal Palace of Madrid houses the Stradivarius Palatinos quartet—the most significant collection of instruments crafted by the legendary Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari.
This quartet consists of two violins, a viola, and a cello, all intricately decorated and known as the "decorated Stradivarius." The palace also houses another cello by Stradivari, dating back to 1700. These instruments were acquired by King Charles IV in 1775.
6. You can visit the Royal Palace Gardens
Every great palace has magnificent gardens, and the Royal Palace of Madrid is no exception. The palace grounds feature two main gardens that you should not miss during your visit.
The Campo del Moro Gardens are named after the Almoravid Emir Ali ibn Yusuf’s troops, who camped there in 1109. Following several renovations, they now feature a 19th-century English-style layout.
The Sabatini Gardens, located to the north, follow a French-style design and were created in the 1930s. They are adorned with a pond and a collection of statues of Spanish kings.
7. The Madrid Royal Palace houses an important collection of paintings
If you are an art lover, you cannot miss the Royal Palace of Madrid. The palace features works from the royal collection, most of which are housed in the Prado Museum. Here, you can admire masterpieces by renowned artists such as Goya, Velázquez, Caravaggio, Bassano, Rubens, Giordano, and Sorolla.
Additionally, the palace's ceilings are adorned with frescoes by artists like Battista, Mengs, Bayeu, and Giaquinto. Be sure to explore every corner, as artworks are displayed throughout the various rooms and in the palace's dedicated painting museum.
8. The Royal Palace has the largest collection of watches in Spain
If you appreciate historic objects, you will love the palace's impressive clock collection. Highlights include 18th-century rococo clocks crafted for King Ferdinand VI by Swiss clockmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz.
Other notable pieces include "El Calvario," a 17th-century clock from Nuremberg, and a clock made of gold, silver, and ivory, gifted to King Alfonso XIII by the President of Peru in 1906.
9. You can witness the changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace of Madrid
We recommend that if you make a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid, write down in your agenda to witness the Solemn Changing of the Royal Guard. This takes place on the first Wednesday of each month at noon, and it involves 4000 people and 100 horses, as it was done in the times of Kings Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII.
If your visit does not coincide on that date, you can witness the Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace, which is held every Wednesday and Saturday of the year from 11 am to 2 pm. There is a change of guard every 30 minutes, and a total of 14 members of the royal guard and 4 horses participate. An interesting note: the guard is dressed in the uniforms of the Spanish army in the time of Alfonso XIII.
10. The Palace in Madrid houses the second best collection of tapestries in the world
Finally, be sure to see the second best collection of tapestries in the world after the Quirinal Palace in Rome. This beautiful collection contains tapestries made in Brussels in the sixteenth century and tapestries from the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid, made in the eighteenth century on cartoons by Francisco de Goya. A tip: don't miss the beautiful tapestries that cover the walls of the Gala Dining Room!