This privileged location is the site of one of Madrid’s main tourist attractions. It was once a fortress, then the old Alcázar or citadel, and finally the Royal Palace. It is the official residence of His Majesty the King of Spain, although he does not actually live here. Apart from its role as a museum, it is only used for ceremonial purposes on state occasions such as diplomatic functions and official events.
The origins of the palace date from the 9th century, when the Muslim kingdom of Toledo, wishing to defend itself against surprise attacks by the Christians, built a fortress which was later used by the kings and queens of Castile. In the 16th century a citadel was built on the same foundations.
On Christmas Eve, 1734, it was reduced to ashes by a fire. Soon after Philip V ordered a new palace to be built on the same spot. Work on the building was carried out between 1738 and 1755. It was designed as a vaulted structure made of stone and brick, and no wood or flammable materials were used in its construction. Charles III of Spain was the first monarch who took up residence there, in 1764.
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About the Royal Palace of Madrid
Palace décor
Detail of the Palace décor
The interior of the building was decorated in marble, stucco and fine wood. Of particular note is its important art collection in a range of different artistic styles, including frescoes. Works by artists such as Giaquinto, Tiépolo, Mengs, Bayeu and Maella can be seen displayed in its various rooms.
The monarchs themselves decided which reforms to carry out and which ornaments to add, and there are characteristic elements from each reign: highlights from the reign of Charles III include the King’s Chamber (also known as the Gasparini Room) and the Porcelain Room, commissioned from the Royal Factory of el Buen Retiro; Charles IV presided the inauguration of the Hall of Mirrors and Alfonso XII was the first king to take his seat in the Gala Dining Hall.
Throne Room
Throne Room
This room was inaugurated during the reign of Charles II and its décor has remained unchanged since that time. The frescoes on the vaulted ceiling were painted by Tiepolo in 1766, and show an allegory of the Spanish monarchy with particular emphasis on the reigns by monarchs in the 18th century.
It was usual for the royal factories to work exclusively for decades to create a particular ornament. An example is the Royal Factory of La Granja, which produced the great mirrors which hang on the walls. The rock crystal chandeliers were brought from further afield, from Venice, in 1780. The velvet embroidery came from Naples, and the bronze lions flanking the royal throne were brought from Rome.
Gallery of Paintings
Gallery of Paintings
This contains works by artists from various schools, including Juan de Flandes (Polyptych of Isabella the Catholic Queen), Caravaggio (Salome with the head of John the Baptist), Velazquez and Goya.
The Royal Palace contains an exhibition of musical instruments, including a string quartet by Stradivarius, and the pieces in the Royal Armoury.
Palace surroundings
Campo del Moro gardens
The Royal Palace has an extensive landscaped recreational area which was not completed until the late 19th century. Located between the Manzanares River and the Royal Palace, the Campo del Moro takes its name from the fact that it was the site of the encampment of the Muslim armies who laid siege to Madrid in the 12th century. The original ideal for the garden dates from the reign of Philip II.
To the east of the garden is the Plaza de Oriente Square, adorned with sculptures of Spanish kings. These figures date from the reign of Ferdinand VI and were intended as ornaments for the building’s exterior.
Source: Turismomadrid.com
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Tourism un Madrid: Royal Palace of Madrid Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 a las 3:50 am y esta categorizada en
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