Madrid Royal Palace Tickets

The Royal Palace of Madrid, like all the Royal Sites managed by National Heritage, are used regularly by SS.MM. the Kings of Spain for their audiences and official events. In addition, the Royal Palace of Madrid, the largest in Western Europe, continues to be the official residence of the King of Spain, being one of the few residences officials of Heads of State which is open to the public, which makes the Palace It is alive since it hosts official events, the changing of the guard and dozens of activities carried out by visitors.

FROM MEDIEVAL ALCAZAR TO ROYAL PALACE

The Royal Palace dates back to the 18th century but in reality it sits on the site of the old Alcázar of Madrid, a Medieval fortress converted into a palace and which Philip II converted ; since 1561 in the official residence of the kings of Spain. The Alcázar, decorated with great works of art from the Spanish Golden Age, was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve 1734.

Legend has it that members of the court of Philip V, of French origin, caused the the fire to be able to build a French or Versailles style palace. But that's what it is, a legend.

For the enormous task, King Felipe V, sent call the best European architect of his time, Filippo Juvarra, who could not see his work finished, something very common at the time, since the works lasted many years. It was his disciple Giambattista Sacchetti who was in charge of to make an adaptation of his ambitious project.

The first stone was laid in 1738 and the construction was not finished until until 1751, although until 1759 the with the sculptural decoration of the surroundings as well as the “exterior works”, always under the direction of Sacchetti, who supervised the construction. with jealous care the entire project from start to finish. However, the realization of his project was altered by Francisco Sabatini, architect of Carlos III, the first monarch to inhabit; in the Royal Palace where the in 1764.

The room of King Charles III, which includes the apartments of the Illustrated King and one of the most important for the city of Madrid, preserves all the decoration directed by Sabatini, uniform throughout the main floor.

The Throne Room and the Chamber called Gasparini constitute the most representative ensembles of Charles III's taste, attached to the Rococo style. in its most exuberant Italian version. We owe important neoclassical ensembles and pieces of French furniture to Charles IV and to Ferdinand VII, the overwhelming collection of French chandeliers in bronze and crystal. The last decorative renovation to which the current historical state of the decoration corresponds is due to Alfonso XII in 1879.

The apartments of Charles IV and María Luisa extend along the eastern façade, where the successive sovereigns lived until 1931.

The Royal Armory, the most important European collection along with that of Vienna, both due to the Habsburgs, was installed next to the Alcázar by Philip II and transferred to the current pavilion in 1891. It is undoubtedly one of the best kept treasures and the most visited rooms.