Royal Palace of Madrid
Filippo Juvarra; Giovanni Battista Sacchetti; Francesco Sabatini · Madrid, Spain · 1764
The Royal Palace occupies the site of Madrid's earlier Alcázar, destroyed by fire in 1734. The new Bourbon palace developed through the work of several architects, including Juvarra, Sacchetti and Sabatini, and became the royal residence in 1764. Its vast stone façades organize a complex of courtyards, state apartments and ceremonial routes above the western slope of the city. The exterior can be understood through the surrounding plazas and gardens, while the interior reveals how architecture, painting and decorative arts supported court life. It remains a setting for official state functions. Visiting: State rooms require a ticket and may close for official functions.