The meeting point for the Royal Palace tour is its main gate, located in front of the Almudena Cathedral. From the gate, you will be able to see clearly the iron grilles, and the main courtyard of the palace. Beyond that, the clock and the Spanish flags are impossible to miss!

The Parade Ground is the place where the Royal Palace welcomes visitors, showing them its main, white façade in all its splendour. The monthly Changing of the Guard, a majestic ceremony in which the sound of drums and horses' hooves echoes throughout the courtyard, also takes place here on the afternoon of the first Wednesday of the month.

The Main Staircase was built using very low steps to make it really easy to climb. As you ascend the staircase, take a minute to look up at the ceiling and discover a magnificient fresco painting entitled 'The Catholic Church protected by the Spanish Monarchy'.

Halfway up the stairs, the foyer and its majestic Spanish coat of arms —embroidered in silk and gold threads— welcome the visitor. On both sides, the statues of two great lions, symbols of the Spanish monarchy, represent the two faces of the monarch's power: its ability to make use of force or to restrain it, depending on the circumstances of every moment.

During many generations, the Spanish kings selected the best European artists of the time —especially from Spain, Italy and Germany— and put these masters in charge of the sumptuous decoration of this Royal Palace. However, amongst the opulent elements of ornamentation, the numerous fresco paintings that decorate the ceilings of the palace are considered to be the pinnacle of its magnificence and lavishness.

This luxurious hall was the place where the Spanish kings and noblemen used to enjoy sumptuous concerts, ball dances, formal banquets and dinner parties. However, the Hall of Columns is used nowadays for the most important State Ceremonies, including royal receptions, concerts and the signing of the most important documents.

From floor to ceiling, this room is filled with Rococó decoration that features wavy curves, leaves, stems, flowers and Chinese motifs! The room is called the "Gasparini Room", after the Italian designer Gasparini, who was responsible for its decoration. Due to the extreme difficulty of the construction, it took 55 years to completely finish its intrincate ornamentation!

Decorated by fifteen gorgeous French chandeliers and a series of 16th-century Belgian tapestries, the Gala Dining Room of the Royal Palace is furnished with a large table that can seat up to 144 guests. However, as the hall is also used for balls, the table —which is 40 metres long— is actually made up of several planks that can be easily assembled and dismantled.

The highest ceiling in the Royal Palace is that of the Royal Chapel. Its magnificent dome rises so high that it seems as if it was defying gravity. The fresco painting painted on the ceiling in Baroque style, is entitled 'The Coronation of the Virgin Mary' and makes use of optical illusions to make the open space look like the open sky and creating a truly divine atmosphere.

The most famous European string instrument maker was Antonio Stradivari, who worked between the 17th and 18th centuries. The instruments he produced, known as 'Stradivarius', are amongst the most valuable musical instruments in the world! In this room you can admire five different Stradivarius instruments: the largest collection of 'Stradivarius' in the world!

This room is decorated with several treasures of great value as symbols of the Spanish Monarchy. Of particular importance are the Royal Sceptre and the Royal Crown, symbols of the Spanish power. Another item on display is the necklace of the 'Golden Fleece' Order of Chivalry, associated with the Spanish royal family since the time of the Habsburg dynasty.

The Throne Room is still used for official events such as kingly audiences. This sumptuous space, illuminated by the light of chandeliers and covered in goldleaf, is decorated with tapestries, mirrors, bronze statues and an immense fresco painting! Here, the elements of decoration are not only beautiful, but also testimony to the wealth and power of the Spanish monarchy!

The tour usually ends at the Main Gate of the Royal Palace. Alternatively, I can take you to Orient Square, an adjacent space facing the east of the Royal Palace!