Royal palaces are often included in the list of objects visited by tourists. True, usually, these are palaces in which kings no longer live — and you need to imagine how the monarchs lived here and whether their children were allowed to run around the halls and arrange houses from tables and chairs. But the Royal Palace in Madrid is the official residence of the ruling family.
King Philip VI of Spain does not live there but only holds official meetings — but he certainly brings his children here in his spare time to admire the art collection. The royal excursion route will also interest your children.
The light grey building of the Palacio Real de Madrid appeared on a hill near the Manzanares River in 1764. Even then, the palace itself became a work of art — thanks to the work of the architects Sacchetti and Sabatini and because famous artists, including Goya and Velasquez, made the frescoes inside the building. Now the palace building has been turned into a museum and is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of Madrid.
The collection of paintings presented here can compete with the collection of the Prado Museum. You will see the works of El Greco, Titian, Caravaggio, Bosch and other famous artists, including modern ones. The exhibition of sculptures is no less good. The works of the Renaissance masters (and the palace, among other things, works by Benvenuto Cellini) contrast with the sculptures created today.
Boys who wouldn't normally expect to enjoy a tour of the palaces will be amazed by the collection of arms and armour. It was begun in the mid-16th century by King Philip II and is today the most extensive collection of Spanish arms. There are some exciting pieces in the collection that all can enjoy, such as the bearded helmet of King Charles V. Tapestries, porcelain, antique furniture, clocks, musical instruments, and fans are also on display.
Adjacent to the palace is the Campo del Moro Park, whose simple layout is softened by flowering plants and intricate fountains. The park contains a fascinating carriage museum. On Wednesdays at midday, watch the changing of the guard ceremony outside the Palacio Real de Madrid. The event is incredibly pompous on the first Wednesday of each month.
If you're not planning to visit the palace, we recommend taking the Teleférico de Madrid cable car ride to see the view from the top.
