Built-in the mid-1700s for King Philip V the Royal Palace is on the site of Madrid’s Moorish Alcázar fortress-palace, which burned down in 1734. It’s the largest royal palace in western Europe and has a blend of baroque and neoclassical styles.
You have to go inside for the full experience because the royal collections and frescoes are sublime.
There are works by Goya, Caravaggio, and Velázquez, as well as stunning displays of watches, tapestries, porcelain, and silverware.
You can see the only string quartet of Stradivarius instruments in the world, and the Royal Armoury which includes the personal weapons used by Charles V in the 16th Century.
