Royal Palace Madrid: the Porcelain Room and the Armour of Charles V

The group gathers near the Plaza de Oriente and walks to the entrance of the Royal Palace, the largest palace in western Europe and larger than either Buckingham Palace or Versailles. It is still used for state ceremonies.

The guided part runs an hour and a half to two hours and covers the private apartments of Charles III, including the Gasparini Hall and the Porcelain Room. The Porcelain Room is the one nobody expects: an entire chamber lined floor to ceiling in porcelain made at the royal factory, mirrors and monkeys and vines in glazed relief, and the joins between the panels almost invisible.

The Royal Chapel follows, then the State Dining Room, then the Throne Room, where the treasures of the Spanish monarchy are kept. The collection of Stradivarius instruments is on the route, the most important set of musical instruments in Europe.

The tour ends in the courtyard, and from there the Royal Armoury is yours to walk alone. It holds mail, helmets and crossbows belonging to Emperor Charles V and to his son Philip II, and it is one of the great arms collections anywhere.

Two practical notes. The order of the stops can be adjusted for scheduling. And the Armoury is occasionally closed for maintenance and restoration.

Cancellation is free up to 18 hours before the start.