Top 10 Facts about the Royal Palace of Madrid

By Jan S0L0 – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about the Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the city’s most beautiful baroque landmark and a tourist attraction.

This building has neoclassical elements that tell of the transitioning styles of its time.

It is mainly used for ceremonial functions and is the official residence of the royal family although they live in a different castle in the outskirts of the city.

This palace is open to the public and holds a rich Spanish history. It is a massive palace with several unique art pieces displayed.

The Royal Palace is the largest in Europe by floor area, it has 1,450,000 square feet of floor space.

You will find this Palace at Calle de Bailén in downtown Madrid. Let us now look at the top 10 facts about the Royal Palace of Madrid.

1. The Palace is located on a previous Moorish castle

By Wikimedia

The Royal Palace of Madrid was commissioned in the 18th century by Philip V. It is on the site of the old Moorish Alcázar fortress.

In the 9^th century, the Moorish constructed the fortress near Magerit as an outpost for Muhammad I of Cordoba.

After Madrid was taken over by King Alfonso VI of Castile in 1083, he used the fortress occasionally.

Three centuries later, King Alfonso XI of Castile made the fortress his residence in 1329.

The Palace was destroyed by fire in 1734 and a new one was built by orders of King Felipe V. It took 17 years to complete the new Palace.

2. The interior of the Palace is over-the-top

The interior of this palace is outstanding because of the art and lavish materials used to decorate the rooms.

Some of the expensive materials used to build and decorate this room are stucco, mahogany doors, and Spanish marble.

There are paintings by famous artists like Caravaggio, Juan de Flandes, Francisco de Goya, and Velázquez, and frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Corrado Giaquinto, and Anton Raphael Mengs.

Other collections in the palace showcase the great historical and artistic culture of the Spanish.

Some of the artefacts preserved in this palace are from the Royal Armoury of Madrid.

There are porcelain, watches, furniture, silverware that were used by the royal families.

3. The Palace was built by Muhammad I

A bust of King Muhammad I of Granada By Luis Rogelio HM – Wikimedia

The original palace was built by Muhammad I Umayyad Emir of Cordoba, between 860 and 880.

He used it as an outpost during his reign. They were however ousted in the 11^th century.

King Henry III of Castile added several towers to the fortress since he used it for defensive functions too.

Later on, King Henry’s son. John II used the palace as his royal residence.

In 1476, the palace was damaged during the war of the Castilian Succession. Charles V commissioned architect Alonso de Covarrubias to renovate the castle in 1561.

After Philip II took over, he made Madrid the capital of Spain and continued the renovation work at the palace.

4. The palace was destroyed by fire

In 1734, the royal palace was destroyed by a fire that originated in the room of Jean Ranc, a French painter.

There were delays in putting out the fire because the locals thought the warning bells were a call for prayers.

The main door to the palace was also locked for fear of looting and ultimately a lot was lost in the fire.

Several historical art pieces were destroyed in the fire including the Expulsion of the Moors, by Diego Velázquez.

Some like that the Las Meninas was saved by throwing it out through the window.

Luckily before the fire incident, the King had asked that most of his precious art collection be moved to Buen Retiro Palace.

The fire blazed for four days and destroyed the palace completely.

5. Charles III extended the Palace

Statues of the Gothic Kings by By Brian Snelson – Wikimedia

In 1760, Charles III commissioned a Neoclassical architect known as Sicilian Francesco Sabatini to extend the building.

The architect’s design was to add a series of galleries and arcades around the palace. This would accommodate future structures that would be built in the square.

He however only completed one square that is on the southeast tower known as la de San Gil.

The construction of the north side was interrupted and, in its place, the royal stable was built.

Ferdinand VII was imprisoned at the palace in the 19^th century. During his imprisonment period, he helped renovate it.

He intended to change the old Italian architecture to a modern French-style palace.

In the 20^th century, the stable was demolished and the Sabatini gardens were created.

6.  The Grand staircase is made from a single marble

One remarkable feature in the palace is the Grand Staircase. This staircase is made from a single piece of San Agustin marble.

At the landing of the staircase are two lions that were sculpted by Felipe de Castro and another by Robert Michel.

Above the staircase is a beautiful fresco painted by Corrado Giaquinto. The fresco portrays how Religion was protected by Spain.

This Grand Staircase has more than 70 steps leading to several rooms that are open to the public.

It was built in 1789 by Sabatini.

7. The Royal armoury is displayed in the Palace

BY Wikimedia

This armoury is considered to be one of the best in the world and is made up of pieces from the 13^th century.

The full tools used by Emperor Charles V that he used in the battle of Muhlberg is displayed at the palace.

There is also the Imperial Armoury of Vienna. Unfortunately, chunks of the collection were lost during the Peninsular War and the Spanish Civil War.

You will also find the shield and burgonet hat were designed by Francesco and Filippo Negroli. These two were the most famous designers in the armourers’ guild.

8. Campo del Moro garden was commissioned by King Philip II

The Palace gardens are known as the Campo del Moro meaning The Moor’s Field. They were first created on orders of King Philip II in 1890.

It is also alleged that the gardens got their name after the Muslim leader Ali Ben Yusuf camped there. He and his troops were there for the attempted reconquest of Madrid in 1109.

King Philip IV further improved the gardens by constructing fountains and planting different types of plants.

9. Sabatini Garden was not designed by Francesco Sabatini

By Jan S0L0 – Wikimedia

This garden connects the north side of the Palacio real. It also extends to Calle de Bailén and the Cuesta de San Vicente.

It was designed in symmetrical French style and was built in 1933 under the Republican Government.

The designer was architect Fernando García Mercadal from Zaragoza.

The gardens were given that name because Sabatini was the one who designed the stables that once occupied the space.

There is a large rectangular pond in the garden surrounded by four fountains and statues of Spanish Kings.

10. The Throne Room is the largest in the Palace

The Throne Room in the palace is the largest and most magnificent room.

It features outstanding mirrors that have rich furnishings used to decorate them.

They were designed by Tiepolo whose vivid imagination brings out the warmth of the room through his paintings.

The decorations in this room have been preserved from the time of King Charles III.