Royal Palace of El Pardo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Palace of El Pardo |
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Palacio Real de El Pardo
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Main façade
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Spanish Renaissance, Neoclassical |
| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Luis de Vega Francesco Sabatini |
| Official name: Palacio Real de El Pardo | |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 1931 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0001062 |
The Royal Palace of El Pardo is a special home for the Spanish royal family. It is one of their oldest official residences. Spanish kings and queens have used it since the 1400s! Today, it is managed by an agency called Patrimonio Nacional. It is often used as a place for important visitors, like leaders from other countries, to stay.
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History of El Pardo Palace
This palace started as a royal hunting lodge. Kings would stay here when they went hunting. It became a second home for the kings of Spain. King Alfonso XII even passed away in the palace in 1885.
Building the Palace
King Henry III ordered a hunting lodge to be built in 1406. He chose Mount El Pardo because it had lots of animals for hunting. In the 1540s, Emperor Charles V had it turned into a grand palace. The architect Luis de Vega helped with this big change.
Fires and Renovations
On March 13, 1604, a huge fire damaged the palace. Many beautiful paintings, including some by Titian, were lost. Later, in the 1700s, King Carlos III decided to fix up the building. He hired his architect, Francesco Sabatini, to do the work.
Inside the Palace
The palace has amazing decorations inside. You can see a ceiling with a fresco painted by Gaspar Becerra. There are also paintings by artists like Vincenzo Carducci and Cabrera.
Modern Use
After the Spanish Civil War, a leader named Francisco Franco used the palace as his home. He lived there until he passed away.
Visiting the Palace
Since Franco's death, the palace has been used for important visitors. When no guests are staying there, you can visit it! Inside, you can see many interesting things. These include beautiful tapestries made by the Royal Tapestry Factory. A famous artist named Goya even designed some of these tapestries. He made them to fit specific spots in the palace.
More to Explore
- Casita del Principe (El Pardo), a smaller building nearby used for fun
- Palace of Zarzuela, another royal home close by
- El Pardo neighborhood
