May 4, 2016, Wednesday — Royal Palace, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest city in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the fourth most populous city in the European Union after London, Paris, and Berlin. Madrid is located on the Manzanares River in the center of Spain, between the autonomous communities of Castilla-León and Castilla-La Mancha. Madrid is considered one of the major financial centers of the Iberian Peninsula, together with Barcelona and Lisbon. Madrid has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; a restored 1850 Opera House known as the Teatro Real, the Buen Retiro park opened in 1631, the imposing 19th century building containing the Spanish National Library, the national archives, an archaeological museum of international reputation, and three superb art museums: the Prado Museum, the Museo Nacianal Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which is housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest city in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the fourth most populous city in the European Union after London, Paris, and Berlin. Madrid is located on the Manzanares River in the center of Spain, between the autonomous communities of Castilla-León and Castilla-La Mancha. Madrid is considered one of the major financial centers of the Iberian Peninsula, together with Barcelona and Lisbon. Madrid has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; a restored 1850 Opera House known as the Teatro Real, the Buen Retiro park opened in 1631, the imposing 19th century building containing the Spanish National Library, the national archives, an archaeological museum of international reputation, and three superb art museums: the Prado Museum, the Museo Nacianal Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which is housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.
General Francisco Franco became Spain’s dictator in 1939 following a bloody uprising, and ruled Spain until his death in 1975, at which time a national referendum narrowly decided that Spain would restore its democracy.
One of the few European capitals not settled by the Romans, it became Spain’s capital city in 1561, when Philip II moved his court from Toledo to the city in which he had been born. Located at the geographic center of Iberia, Madrid was a crossroads of the peninsula and remains a thriving cultural and artistic center, wit the liveliest nightlife in the country.
Martha was still sick this morning, so Arthur went with the group to tour of the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), an opulent, 2,800-room complex inspired by France’s Versailles. Arthur was not allowed to take pictures inside the Royal Palace, but he managed to get some of the outside grounds.
Royal Palace, Madrid
View from the Plaza de la Armeria, Royal Palace
our local guide talks about the history of the Royal Palace
niche and sculpture in the Sabatini Gardens
North facade of the Palace, with dome of the Royal Chapel from the Sabatini Gardens
Statues of the Gothic kings in the Plaza de Oriente, Royal Palace
Giaquinto's fresco above the staircase
the armory
main staircase by Sachetti
dining room
dining room
the library
the throne room
the throne room