Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish monarch, though the royal family lives at Zarzuela Palace and the palace is used only for state ceremonies and formal occasions. Covering 135,000 square metres with 3,418 rooms — nearly twice the size of Buckingham Palace or Versailles — it is the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Philip V ordered its construction on the site of the old Alcázar, which had been almost completely destroyed by fire in 1734; building began in 1738. Inside, the palace holds an exceptional collection of historic art and artefacts, most famously a set of instruments known as the Royal Collection of Stradivari. It welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors in 2023, making it one of Spain's most visited historic monuments. Step inside, and every room has a story to tell.
Spain · 36 The overlooked corners inside
The overlooked corners inside
Royal Library of the Royal Palace
Look up at the mahogany shelving that lines these walls — it was made for this floor around 1840. The Royal Library has occupied the northwest corner of the palace since the death of Ferdinand VII, whose widow, the Queen Mother, wanted the entire San Gil wing for herself. It shares its origins with today's National Library of Spain: both were founded by Philip V, the first Bourbon king. The shelves hold around 300,000 printed books, including 263 incunabula (books printed before 1501), plus 4,755 manuscripts and 4,169 musical scores. This is not merely a repository of old volumes — it is today an active centre for the history of the book.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Armoury
The complete suit of armour and equipment before you is what Holy Roman Emperor Charles V wore at the Battle of Mühlberg — the very armour Titian depicted in his famous equestrian portrait of the emperor, now in the Prado. The Royal Armoury of Madrid, on the ground floor of the palace, ranks alongside the Imperial Armoury in Vienna and the Royal Armoury in Turin as one of the world's finest collections of arms and armour. Its holdings span from the fifteenth century onwards and include the personal weapons of successive Spanish monarchs, military trophies, and diplomatic gifts.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Porcelain Room
Every wall and the ceiling are covered not in tiles but in a continuous fitted porcelain cladding, mounted on a timber armature with the joints deliberately hidden beneath moulded imitations of fabric and climbing stems. Decorated between 1765 and 1770, the Porcelain Room represents some of the earliest work from the prime years of the Real Fábrica del Buen Retiro (Royal Porcelain Factory of Buen Retiro), and is credited to José Gricci, Genaro Boltri, and Juan Bautista de la Torre — the same team that created the porcelain room at Aranjuez, though this one tends more toward the Rococo, in quieter tones with a Neoclassical lean. The floor was designed by Matías Gasparini.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Column Hall
The Column Hall has exactly the same structural bones as the main staircase — it was always intended as the shell of the twin staircase Sacchetti designed. The room's function shifted more than once: it served as a ballroom and banqueting hall until the death of Queen Mercedes in 1879, when her lying-in-state here changed its character. On Holy Thursday the Washing of Feet (Mandatum) ceremony takes place here, with the king and queen washing and serving a meal to twenty-five poor people before ministers, diplomats, and senior clergy. Today it is also the regular venue for concerts by the Royal Collection of Stradivari and the site of the palace Christmas tree.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Gasparini Room
The Gasparini Room is one of the best-preserved in the palace — almost entirely untouched — and its decorative scheme took roughly fifty years to complete. It served as the dressing room of Charles III, used in the manner of court etiquette of the time: the king dressed in the presence of his ministers, a political performance as much as a morning routine. The entire decorative programme was designed by Matías Gasparini, from the marble floor and silk wall-hangings to the furniture, all unified in a blend of Rococo and Chinoiserie. Above the fireplace stands a Swiss automaton clock made by the watchmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz: on the hour, a shepherd figure rises and plays a flute while other figures dance. The clock face is inscribed: 'Jaquet Droz A la Chaux de Fonds en Suisse'.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Throne Room
The Throne Room is the only room in the palace whose function has never changed — Sacchett… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Chapel
The Royal Chapel is one of the most architecturally striking spaces in the palace, positio… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Pharmacy
The Royal Pharmacy became an official arm of the royal household under Philip II, responsi… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Bishop's Room
The Bishop's Room is a suite of secondary rooms adjoining the Royal Chapel, named after th… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: wikidata.org · es.wikipedia.org · hola.com
Royal Kitchen
The Royal Kitchen is one of the best-preserved palace kitchens in Europe, in continuous op… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: yummybarcelona.com · miradormadrid.com
Plaza de la Armería
The origins of the Plaza de la Armería go back to 1553, when Philip II ordered the constru… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Plaza de Oriente
The Plaza de Oriente exists because of a plan that was never completed: Joseph I Napoleon… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Moors' Camp Garden
The name Campo del Moro (Moors' Camp) is said to derive from the encampment made here in 1… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Sabatini Gardens
The Sabatini Gardens lie on the north side of the palace, between the palace, Calle Bailén… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Library
The Royal Library moved to the northwest corner of the palace following the death of Ferdi… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Pharmacy
The Royal Pharmacy became an official part of the royal household under Philip II, respons… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Armoury
The Royal Armoury ranks alongside the Imperial Armoury in Vienna as one of the world's fin… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
General Archive of the Royal Palace
The General Archive of the Royal Palace was established in 1814 to centralise and classify… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Kitchen
The Royal Kitchen was built at the same time as the rest of the palace, in 1737, and renov… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Main Staircase
The main staircase was designed by Sabatini in 1760 and moved to the opposite, symmetrical… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Halberdiers' Room
The Halberdiers' Room was originally conceived by Sacchetti as a ballroom or banqueting ha… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Column Hall
The Column Hall shares the same structure as the main staircase — it was Sacchetti's plann… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Gasparini Room
The Gasparini Room, dating from the reign of Charles III, is considered one of the most be… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Porcelain Cabinet
The Porcelain Cabinet was decorated in the reign of Charles III, inspired by the similar r… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
State Dining Room
The State Dining Room was created by merging three rooms that originally formed part of th… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Mirror Room
The Mirror Room is a Neoclassical interior decorated during the reign of Charles IV, origi… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Throne Room
The Throne Room is the only room in the palace whose function has never changed since it w… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Royal Chapel
The Royal Chapel is one of the finest spaces in the entire palace, set at the centre of th… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Crown Room
The Crown Room was formerly the sitting room of Queen Mother Maria Christina, hung with ta… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Old Queen's Apartments
The Old Queen's Apartments were created for Queen Elizabeth Farnese, who lived here betwee… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
The Original Alcázar
The site of today's palace was first built as a fortress by Muhammad I, Emir of Córdoba, b… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The Baroque Palace
Philip V resolved to build an entirely new palace on the ruins of the old Alcázar. The Ita… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Main Staircase
The main staircase was built by Sabatini in 1789, after Charles IV acceded and requested i… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Queen's Apartments and State Dining Room
These rooms were originally the Queen's Apartments during the reign of Charles III; Alfons… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Royal Chapel
The Royal Chapel was designed by Sacchetti and Ventura Rodríguez in 1748. The dome fresco… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Crown Room
The Crown Room was formerly the sitting room of María Cristina of Austria, mother of Alfon… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
FAQ
What overlooked corners are worth seeing inside Royal Palace of Madrid?
Royal Library of the Royal Palace, Royal Armoury, Porcelain Room and more — 36 spots in all, each with sources and a guide in your language to read or listen to on the spot.
Is the Royal Palace of Madrid guide free?
The first 5 spots are free to read; the other 31 unlock with a one-time purchase (not a subscription).