The Palacio Real

The Palacio Real is the official Royal P alace of Madrid, although the king of Spain no longer actually lives there. The palace is currently only used by the king for official ceremonies.

The current palace was built between 1738 and 1755 by King Philip V after the original building on the site was destroyed by fire. In order to prevent future destruction of the palace the entire building was constructed without using any wood, and instead builders used only stones and brick.

King Charles III moved into the castle in 1764. Decorations in the palace have evolved with time and often reflect the time period of the current king. Charles III’s mark on the palace has been left behind in the throne room, porcelain room, and king’s chamber décor. Charles IV left behind the Hall of Mirrors and Queen Maria Luisa’s Plasterwork Room. King Alfonso XII made his mark with the Gala Dining Room. The palace also contains a substantial painting room.

If you decide to make a trip to the palace you will want to spend a little bit of time in the palace gardens. The gardens, which are known as Campo del Moro, or The Moor’s Field, were created in 1890. The garden has several statues of previous kings, as well as a variety of lush vegetation.