Palace of Zarzuela facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zarzuela Palace |
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Palacio de la Zarzuela
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Members of the Spanish royal family
with guests at the palace in 2009 |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Town or city | Madrid |
| Country | Spain |
| Coordinates | 40°29′00″N 3°48′06″W / 40.48325°N 3.80165°W |
| Current tenants | King Felipe VI and his family. |
| Construction started | 1627 |
| Completed | 1635 |
| Owner | Patrimonio Nacional |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Juan Gómez de Mora Alonso Carbonel |
| Other designers | Diego Méndez |
The Zarzuela Palace (which in Spanish is Palacio de la Zarzuela) is a special building in Madrid, Spain. It's where the current King of Spain, Felipe VI, has his offices and where he works. Even though it's a royal palace, the official home for the Spanish royal family is the Royal Palace of Madrid.
The Zarzuela Palace is located just outside Madrid. It is close to the Royal Palace of El Pardo, which is used for important visitors like leaders from other countries. The Spanish government owns the Zarzuela Palace. A group called Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) takes care of it.
King Juan Carlos I lived at the Zarzuela Palace from 1962 until 2020, when he moved to live abroad. His wife, Queen Sofía, continues to live in Spain. While King Felipe VI has his office at the palace, he and his family live in a separate building nearby. This building is called the Pabellón del Príncipe, located on the palace grounds.
History of the Zarzuela Palace
The Zarzuela Palace was first built in the 1600s. King Felipe IV of Spain ordered it to be a country house. It was also used as a hunting lodge, a place where the king could stay while hunting.
The name "Zarzuela" comes from the Spanish word "zarzas," which means "brambles." This name likely came from the many bramble bushes in the hunting grounds around the palace.
The original building was rectangular. It had a slate roof and two arched sections on the sides. Later, in the 1700s, King Carlos IV changed the palace. He updated it to fit the style of that time. He added beautiful tapestries, porcelain, and furniture. He also decorated it with his favorite clocks.
The Palace as a Royal Home
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía lived in the Zarzuela Palace for many years. They moved there after they got married in May 1962. King Juan Carlos I moved abroad in August 2020. Queen Sofía still lives in Spain.
The Palacio Real is in the center of Madrid. This grand palace used to be the main home for Spanish kings and queens. Today, it is only used for very special events, like state visits. The Zarzuela Palace is where the current King works and where his family lives.
In 2002, King Felipe VI moved into a new home. This new building is called the Prince's Pavilion. It was built within the grounds of the Zarzuela Palace. It is about 3,150 square meters (33,900 square feet) in size.
Zarzuela and Opera
The palace once had its own theater. This theater was important for Spanish music. It was the place where a special type of Spanish musical play began. This type of play is called zarzuela.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de la Zarzuela para niños
