Madrid - Royal Palace

(Local Name: Palacio Real) After the fire which destroyed the old Alcázar of the Habsburgs at Christmas 1724 Philip V commissioned the Italian architect Filippo Juvara (1678-1736) to design a new palace in its place. After Juvara's sudden death work on the plans was continued by his associate Giovanni Battista Sacchetti (1700-64), who simplified the design into a closed square with an inner courtyard and projecting elements at the corners. The facade was based on drawings prepared by Bernini for the Louvre in Paris.

The palace is built entirely of stone - granite from the Sierra de Guadarrama and white Colmenar stone. Massive foundation walls support the building on the steep slope down to the Manzanares which is laid out in gardens (the Jardines de Sabatini to the north, the Campo del Moro to the west). The impression of imposing and unapproachable majesty which is conveyed by the palace is reinforced by the massive substructure of finely dressed ashlar with small windows. An intermediate floor, also with small square windows, forms a transition to the main structure. The balconies of the principal apartments are separated by Ionic columns and Doric pilasters. Above the main floor is another intermediate floor without openings, and above this again a final floor with windows. The facade is topped by a balustrade of white stone with statues of Spanish kings.

The main front is on the south side, facing the Plaza de la Armeriàa. Like the other fronts, it bears the royal arms. From the main entrance an imposing staircase by Sabatini, with a fresco by Corrado Giaquinto (1700-66), "The Triumph of Religion and the Church", leads up to the main floor.