Madrid has long been on my TODO list, but it was only the end of last year around holiday time that I finally made it. Since it was the holidays, most of the things in Spain were closed, but I was able to visit a few attractions that were open, and perhaps the most famous of those is the Royal Palace of Madrid. As the name suggests, it is meant to be used by the royal family, but the current royal family likes to live away from the city, and so this site is mainly used for official ceremonies.
It’s definitely an impressive building, with an interesting history dating back to the 10th century, and has plenty to explore inside. There are audio guides and signs in every room, but I breezed through the whole complex without those in about an hour and a half. Having visited lots of royal residences throughout France, Spain, and Portugal has left me somewhat immune to their charms, even though there’s no doubt that those who fancy royal residences will get a kick out of this visit and the mix of cultures.
Since photography inside is not allowed, I’ll just show you the court-yards…
and the entrance halls…
with a bit of Christmas spirit…
Around the palace are some nice gardens and public spaces…
Location:
With the Templo de Debod – an ancient Egyptian temple – 5 minute walk away …
And since we’re already in Spanish holiday spirit, here’s a bit from Christmas around Madrid that day…