Royal Palace of Madrid

"The official residence of Spain's royal family (now only used to host official ceremonies) was commissioned in 1738 by King Felipe V."

"Inside, every wall, ceiling, and floor either is a work of art, or hosts works of art." Full review

"If you spent your childhood dreaming of princesses, knights, and dragons, the Palacio Real, Madrid’s own royal palace, will be your dream come true." Full review

"From the outside, the dramatic scale of the palace is so impressive. But inside it has such texture and detail." Full review

"The opulent 18th-century palace stands on a strategic site with views across the countryside." Full review

"Part of the national heritage and you can visit thirty of its 2 000 rooms, among them the beautiful Throne Room, the sumptuous Gasparini Room and the marvellous Porcelain Room." Full review

"Commissioned by Felipe V after the earlier Alcázar was lost to a fire in 1734, the Royal Palace is rarely used by the royal family today, and many of its 3,000 rooms are open to view." Full review

"This huge and beautiful palace is surrounded by lovely gardens, irrigated by the waters of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape." Full review

"An exceptional showcase of Spanish baroque religious art, with works by Gaspar Becerra, Zurbarán, Claudio Coello and even a tiny painting attributed to Goya." Full review

"It contains a great many pieces of 17th-century religious art, the most impressive of which is Jusepe Ribera's shimmering chiaroscuro portrait of John the Baptist. " Full review