The beautiful and diverse city of Madrid serves as the capital of Spain. With an ideal weather all year long and a number of important historical and cultural sites, its no wonder the city draws large numbers of tourists every year. Once they arrive, they’ll find a number of five star Madrid hotels to choose from and some of the finest Spanish restaraunts in the world. And don’t forget the city’s legendary nightlife featuring more bars, clubs, and taverns per capita than any other European city.
Of course, it is the architectual wonder and rich history that attract many visitors to Madrid. The Palacio Real or Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the more popular destinations for tourists. Located in the western part of Madrid’s downtown area, it is the largest royal palace in Western Europe.
The Palacio Real was designed by the Bourbon King’s to follow the Baroque international architectural style. However, it is sometimes confused with neoclassical structures. The Palace coveres 100,000 square meters and features over 30 principal rooms, 44 stairways, 870 windows and 240 balconies. The palace facades are 33 meters tall and 130 meters wide.
Also housed on the Palace grounds is the Real Armorial or Royal Armory. The two-story structure features a collection of medieval armor and weapons. The Pharmacia is also here, exhibiting a replica of an early Spanish laboratory as well as hundreds of vials of medicines from previous eras. While the Palacio is no longer the official residence of the reigning royal family, it did serve as such for over a thousand years.
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