Madrid's Royal Palace, Europe's largest and one of its most spectacular, is a sprawling exercise in over-the-top regal opulence, with galleries and ballrooms that seem to go on forever -- whenever you think it's topped itself, there's another room around the corner that outdoes the last. Started in 1735 by King Philip V following the destruction by fire of Spain's Royal Alcázar (which stood on the same spot), the design was modeled after the Palace of Versailles, where Philip had spent his childhood. With more than 3,400 rooms, it remains the official residence of the Spanish royal family, although it's presently used only for official state ceremonies.
Visitors can tour the most impressive rooms in the palace, from the Grand Staircase at the entryway to the stunning royal apartments of King Charles III, who redecorated the palace with its current Baroque-Rococo interior, a design that gives the impression of bring inside a giant Italian painting. No room is a better expression of this style than the mind-blowing Gasparini Room, which features a frescoed ceiling by Tiepolo, silk walls, painted stucco figures and a multicolored marble floor. It takes your breath away, and seems like grandest room in the palace -- until you reach the impossibly large Dining Room a bit later in the tour.
By far the grandest space you'll see is the mind-blowing Royal Chapel, which looks like a miniature cathedral in the heart of the palace. It's still used for royal funerals, and a prominently displayed glass coffin contains the body of St. Felix, which the Vatican gifted to the Spanish King in the 1800s. Beyond that, you'll see a room housing a collection of rare Stradivarius violins, another that displays the Spanish crown jewels, and finally, the Throne Room, still used by the king and queen for official state functions.
Buy a timed admission ticket ahead of time through the official palace website, particularly if you're visiting on a weekend. Instead of paying extra for a third-party tour, consider using the guide provided by the palace or (even better) navigate the rooms using Rick Steves' highly informative Madrid guidebook. The whole tour takes between 60 and 90 minutes, but leave time to navigate the security line and the entrance queue. After you leave the palace, you can also visit the Royal Armory on the other side of the main courtyard, but this was closed during our recent visit.
Nothing can prepare you for the scale and grandeur of the Palacio Royal. Whether you're a student of history, art or architecture, a visit here is a MUST if you're visiting Madrid. read more