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The Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid), also called Palacio de Oriente (Palace of Orient) was the official residence of the King of Spain, located in the Spanish capital of Madrid. King Juan Carlos and his family do not actually reside in this palace, instead choosing the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. However, the Palacio Real de Madrid is still used for state occasions. The palace is owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency.
The palace is located on Bailén street, in the western part of downtown Madrid, east of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the Ópera metro station. The palace is partially open to public, except when in official use.
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History
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Today
The palace is the largest in all of Western Europe, occupying an area of 135,000 m². It is richly decorated by artists such as Velázquez, Tiepolo, Mengs, Gasparini, Juan de Flandes, Caravaggio, and Goya. Several royal collections of great historical importance are kept at the castle, including the Royal Armoury and its weapons dating back to the 13th century, and the world's only complete Stradivarius string quintet, as well as collections of tapestry, porcelain, furniture, and other objets d'art of great historical importance.
Below the palace, to the west, is a garden called the Campo del Moro; to the east is the Plaza de Oriente and the Teatro Real operahouse. To the south is a vast square, the Plaza de la Armería, surrounded by narrow wings of the palace, and to the south of that is located the Catedral de la Almudena. To the north are the Jardines de Sabatini (Sabatini Gardens), named after one of the architects of the palace.
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