Madrid’s Royal Palace and El Retiro Park Guided Tour
The Royal Palace stands on what was formerly the Alcazar of Madrid, a medieval fortress that was converted into an opulent palace by John II, Charles V, and Philip II, who made the palace the official residence the Spanish Monarchy in 1561. You will be led into the main rooms, where you can see the intricate frescoes painted by acclaimed artists Giambattista Tiepolo and Antonio Rafael Mengs, which are the most impressive features here. As you move on to Charles III's private chambers, you can see the fixed furnishing on the entire main floor designed by Francesco Sabantini, a Sicilian architect favored by the king. Here, you can see the lavish Spanish mantelpieces, friezes and archways, solid mahogany window frames and doors, and, of course, the stucco ceilings and frescoes. Don't miss out on the Throne Room and Gasparini Room, which has the most exquisite French furnishings and bronze-and-glass chandeliers.
The Ornate Royal Gardens, or Campo del Moro
The historical Royal Gardens, or Campo del Moro Park, was converted into the 19th-century English garden it is today on the orders of Queen Maria Cristina. Set against the backdrop of the Royal Palace, these gardens have exquisite walkways and floral arrangements that are worth seeing. The vast green tapestry has a romantic garden and is home to two Neoclassical fountains - the Palace of the Shells fountain and the Fountain of the Tritons.
El Retiro Park, the Centre of Madrid's Greenery
Located at the heart of the city, this green oasis covers over 125 hectares and has about 15,000 trees here. El Retiro Park is home to several interesting monuments and gardens, including the Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios, Jardín de Vivaces, Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, and the Rosaleda Rose Garden, to name a few. One of the gardens here, the Parterre Francés, is home to a Mexican conifer that is supposedly Madrid's oldest tree and is nearly 400 years old! Some of the monuments you must check out includes the majestic Monument to Alfonso XII, which overlooks the lake, the statue of the Fallen Angel in the Rose Garden, and the Galápagos Fountain, built in honor of the princess at the time, Isabella II. If you happen to visit on weekends, you might be able to catch a live puppet show at the Teatro de Títeres, Europe's only theatre that stages puppet shows.