WELCOME TO PALACIO REAL
THE HEART OF MADRID
The Royal Palace stands on the site of the Phillip V then decided to raise a new Royal
former Alcazar of Madrid, a medieval fortress Palace on this site, employing the best
transformed into a lavish palace by John II, architect in Europe at the time, Filippo Juvarra.
Charles V and Phillip II who in 1561 made it the When Juvarra died in 1736, his pupil
official residence of the Spanish Monarchy. The Giambattista Sacchetti made various changes
Alcazar, sumptuously decorated by Phillip II and to his grandiose project. The entire building is
Phillip IV, who commissioned this work to made of a series of domes built without a
Velázquez, was destroyed in a fire on Christmas single piece of wood and it has multiple floors
Eve 1734. to accommodate all the administrative offices,
Crown officials and servants.