Royal Palaces & Landmarks

Madrid’s architectural legacy is defined by its Bourbon-era grandeur and neoclassical design. This collection highlights the city's monarchical history through sites like the Sabatini Gardens and the 16th-century El Pardo hunting lodge. It features the 'Golden Triangle of Art' housed in aristocratic structures like the Villahermosa Palace and Juan de Villanueva’s Prado Museum. From the iron-and-glass Crystal Palace in Retiro Park to the eclectic Cibeles Palace and the lion-guarded Congress of Deputies, these landmarks showcase centuries of Spanish political and cultural heritage.

Jim Anzalone from / CC BY-SA 2.0

A

Crystal Palace

19th-century glass and iron exhibition building originally constructed as a greenhouse for tropical plants during a colonial exhibition. It currently hosts contemporary art installations and is a national monument.

Carlos Delgado / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Cibeles Palace

Historic neo-gothic palace serving as city hall and cultural center, recognized as a national monument with eclectic architectural style.

Carlos Delgado / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Sabatini Gardens

Formal neoclassical gardens divided into three terraces featuring geometric designs, statues, fountains, and large cedar trees. The gardens provide scenic views of a royal palace and include a maze and several fountains.

Pazit Polak / CC BY 2.0

D

Plaza de Oriente

Historic square featuring formal gardens and a collection of sculptures, located adjacent to royal landmarks including a palace and an opera theater.

Carlos Delgado / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Palace of El Pardo

Originally commissioned by King Henry III as a hunting lodge, the small castle was turned into a palace during the reign of Carlos V by the…

Dmadeo / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Thyssen-Bornemisza is a celebrated museum which houses one of the largest collections of art in the world - more than 1,600 paintings.

Vickybol / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Congress of Deputies

Historic neoclassical palace serving as the seat of the Spanish Congress, known for its allegorical sculptures and architectural significance.

Brian Snelson from / CC BY 2.0

H

Prado Museum

National art museum housed in a neoclassical building, featuring an extensive collection of European paintings from renowned masters such as Goya, Velázquez, and Rembrandt.