ROYAL PALACE, Exterior
- Audio File length: 2.22
- Author: STEFANO ZUFFI E DAVIDE TORTORELLA
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Language: English / USA
Hi, I'm James, your personal guide. Together with MyWoWo, I'd like to welcome you to one of the wonders of the world.
Today I'll accompany you through the Royal Palace, which is one of the most fabled places in Madrid.
You should know that long ago in the Muslim era, the mighty castle Alcázar stood tall in the northwestern part of the city's historical center. It was modified and expanded several times until a fire destroyed what remained of the ancient Arab fortress in 1734. Philip V then decided to rebuild a new Royal Palace from its foundations, while keeping the square shape of the building. The king favored the current French style so much that he indicated the Parisian Louvre building as the Palace's model, and brought architect Filippo Juvarra in from Italy who had created the Savoys' splendid late baroque residences in Turin. Many of the artists involved in the halls' decoration were Italian....