Royal Palace of Madrid

The King of Spain's official residence, this palace was built in the mid-eighteenth century on the grounds of the old Alcázar de los Austrias, by order of King Philip V.

Since the time of its first resident Charles III, its rooms and halls have been decorated according to the tastes of the successive monarchs who lived there.

The palace is home to important collections of tapestries, paintings, furniture and other luxury arts, making it one of the most notable collections in Europe.

The Royal Armoury is equally stunning, containing an outstanding collection of weapons and shields belonging to the House of Habsburg and dating from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.