During the Moorish rule, Madrid was not the capital of Spain. To defend the city, Mohammed I built a tower at the current location of the palace. Over time, the tower was renovated and eventually declared a castle by the Castilian king in the 14th century. In 1734, the castle was destroyed by a fire, and Felipe V ordered for it to be rebuilt in 1738. After 17 years, it was finally completed. The palace's architecture was inspired by the design of the Louvre in Paris, featuring a square courtyard and galleries. Carlos III, known as the "Greatest Mayor of Madrid," was the first king to use the castle as a royal residence.
The Madrid Palace is the largest palace in Western Europe, containing 3,418 rooms, each with its own unique features. It houses an extensive collection of exquisite paintings, antiques, weapons, ceramics, clocks, and silverware. The collection includes five violins made by one of the greatest stringed instrument makers in history, Antonio Stradivari, which are displayed in the music room of the Royal Library. In addition, the palace houses works by famous Spanish artists, such as Velázquez and Goya, as well as important paintings from the Italian Baroque painter, Caravaggio.
Although the Madrid Palace is still the royal residence, the king only occasionally uses it for official business. If both flags on the roof of the palace are raised, it means that the king is present.
Oriental Square, located in the center of Madrid, is a charming garden-style square built during the Joseph Bonaparte period in the 19th century. The west side of the square is the Royal Palace of Madrid, while the east side is the Royal Theatre. The magnificence of these two grand buildings adds to the square's imposing presence. On the side of the Royal Theatre, a series of small bars are arranged in a semi-circle, providing tourists with an excellent place to rest and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Inside the square, there are fountains and a statue of King Philip IV riding a horse, designed by Velázquez, for tourists to admire. As the foreground of the Spanish Royal Palace, Oriental Square and the palace form a spectacular scenic line, attracting the attention and snapshots of many visitors.
The Royal Opera (L
The Royal Theater of Madrid (Teatro Real de Madrid) is located next to the Puerta del Sol and was built by the city's architect Antonio López Aguado during the reign of Isabella I. It was completed and opened in 1850, although the cornerstone of the theater was laid on April 23, 1818. In 1977, the building was awarded the status of a national monument and began to be reconsidered for its original function as a theater. Finally, in 1997, it once again became a stage for Madrid's opera art.
The Almudena Cathedral, located on the west side of the center of Madrid, is the center of the Archdiocese of Madrid, and faces the Royal Palace across the Plaza de la Armeria to the north. The cathedral's patron saint is the Virgin of Almudena, who is also the patron saint of Madrid. Plans to build this cathedral date back to the 16th century, but construction did not officially begin until 1879 and was interrupted at times. The original Gothic architectural style was changed to Baroque style when construction resumed, in order to match the facade of the Royal Palace. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on June 15th, 1993, becoming the newest cathedral in Europe. The original form of the Virgin of Almudena is enshrined in a small chapel on the west side of the cathedral.
Sungate site
This is the most famous and central square in Madrid, just a few steps away from the City Hall Square. Originally it was the location of a city gate, facing east and decorated with the image of the sun, hence the name of the square. The square is actually almost semi-circular, its current form due to a major renovation project carried out between 1854 and 1860. If you look at the "flat" southern side of the semi-circle, you will see a clock tower, a building called "Real Casa de Correos". Originally built in the 18th century as part of the post office, it is now the headquarters of the President of the Madrid Autonomous Region.
Paseo del Arte is definitely one of the locations with the highest density of artworks in the world. This is because the famous Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and Queen Sofia Art Center (with the Art Walk package you can use to all three museums at the same time) are gathered in a short distance of just over one kilometer, along with other not-to-be-missed art institutions and buildings.
