Royal Palace

Iconography of Power
In addition to the painted ceilings – those of the
Throne Room were done by Tiepolo and those of the
Royal Chapel by Corrado Giaquinto – the palace boasts
This majestic building, constructed by architects Filippo various portraits by Goya and a painting by Caravaggio,
Juvarra and Giambattista Sacchetti on the same lot where the entitled Salome with the Head of John the Baptist. Juan
Royal Alcázar of the Hapsburgs once stood, opens its doors de Flandes, Rubens and Winterhalter are a few more of
every day as a museum, except when state ceremonies are the endless list of painters present in the collection.
being held. Its extensive collection of paintings, sculptures,
weapons and decorative arts is unique in the world. Although it Musical Instruments and Weapons
is the official residence of Spain’s king and queen, they actually Of particular note in the palace’s extraordinary
live in Zarzuela Palace on the outskirts of Madrid. collections are Royal Quartet, comprising two violins,
one viola and one violoncello made by Stradivarius
for Charles III. The Armoury also houses pieces of
Decorative Arts enormous value, such as an ear dagger from a Nasrid
Despite the vicissitudes of history, Madrid’s Royal Palace has reached workshop in Granada – an outstanding example of
our current times with much of its original furniture. Particularly Hispano-Islamic refinement – and a parade helmet
striking in their magnificence are Gasparini Hall, a masterpiece of that belonged to Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.
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Rococo art that was used as a dressing room by King Charles III; and the
1. Royal Palace
Gala Dining Hall, decorated during the reign of Alfonso XII with delicate
2. Gasparini Hall
tapestries by Guillermo Pannemaker, woven in the 16th century. The
3. Burgonet of Charles V
clocks, commodes, chairs and lamps in this palace have borne witness 1470-1532.Kolman Helmschmid
to conversations of great political importance, and continue to do so 4. Queen María Luisa Wearing
during solemn ceremonies. a Mantilla. 1799. (Close-up)
Francisco de Goya
5. The Apotheosis of Aeneas
1762-1766. (Close-up)
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
6. Atlas. 1800
Royal Abraham Louis Breguet
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Palace © Patrimonio Nacional

Bailén, s/n

91 454 88 00

patrimonio
nacional.es
San
Every day 10am until Francisco
6pm in winter and 1 “El Grande”
10am until 8pm in A short distance from the
summer palace you’ll find a church that
is undoubtedly one of the most
monumental in Madrid, the Basilica
of San Francisco “El Grande”. The
church is nicknamed “The Large”
due to the colossal dimensions
of itsdome: 33 metres in
diameter.

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 Royal Sites
The royal convents of Las
Descalzas and La Encar-
nación have always been
linked to the Crown, and El
Pardo Palace was a recre-
ational site for members
of the Court. Places of
particular historic value
outside of the city include
Aranjuez Gardens and the
Monastery of El Escorial,
which are UNESCO World
Heritage Sites.

Royal Monastery of El Escorial

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