Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.
If you could measure a royal palace by floor space, then Madrid's Palacio Real would come out on top. With 3,400 rooms, it's easily the largest in Europe. But the Royal Palace has more than size to commend it. There are the cool glades of the Sabbatini Gardens, the intricate formality of the Plaza de Oriente, which opens out on to the Royal Theatre, and the elegant grandness of the Plaza de la Armería, facing onto the Almudena Cathedral.This 18th century palace isn't the first to share this prime spot in Madrid. It was the Moors, over a thousand years ago, who first built a fort on this bluff, overlooking the Manzanares river. They called it mayrit, 'place of life-giving water', and in that moment, Madrid was born. A Castile castle (or alcázar) was built here in the 16th century, added to and rebuilt by the Spanish kings that followed. That burned down in 1734, and from its ashes the present Palacio Real arose.It was designed by a veritable host of famous Baroque architects, under the guidance of King Charles III. He finally moved into it in 1764, and the new palace became a very European demonstration of wealth and patronage. Fine furniture, and finer art were installed throughout its thousands of rooms, some of which are still on display today. The Royal Palace is only occasionally used by today's royal family, and is open to public.So you'll be able to see eminent works by famed artists like Caravaggio, Goya and Velázquez. And with centuries of extravagant collecting by Spain's monarchs – much of which survived the Spain's revolutions, rebellions, and civil wars – the Palace has some fascinating corners. The Royal Armoury has rare armour and weapons made personally for Emperor Charles V, while the Royal Pharmacy has an incredible collection of potions, powders and herbs – each labelled and stored in its own gilded drawer. It may be that the Royal Palace commands your attention through its immense size and grandeur – but it's the intricate detail inside that will keep you fascinated, as you explore its endless corridors.
