Hall of Realms

The Hall of Realms, in Madrid

The Hall of Realms is a historic palace of Madrid, a vestige of the former Buen Retiro Palace. The Madrid audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this building with pink tones, whose name recalls the coats of arms of the kingdoms of the Spanish monarchy.

The palace with the coats of arms of the kingdoms

The palace with pink tones that you discover here is the Hall of Realms. It owes its name to the paintings of its ceiling, which represent the coats of arms of the twenty-four kingdoms and territories placed under the control of the Spanish monarchy, at the time when Spain reigned over an immense empire. This building is one of the rare vestiges of the former and sumptuous Buen Retiro Palace, the royal pleasure residence built in the seventeenth century, whose gardens have become the current Retiro park. The Hall of Realms was a prestigious ceremonial hall, adorned with masterpieces, notably the great canvases of Velázquez celebrating the glory of the crown. A witness of the splendour of the Spanish Golden Age, the building is destined to become an extension of the Prado Museum. The Hall of Realms is a precious vestige of the past grandeur of Madrid.

What to see

Here you admire the palace with pink tones, one of the rare vestiges of the former and sumptuous Buen Retiro Palace, whose name recalls the coats of arms of the twenty-four kingdoms of the Spanish monarchy painted on the ceiling, a former ceremonial hall adorned with the great canvases of Velázquez. The Hall of Realms testifies to the past grandeur of Madrid. It is a stop for those curious about history, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Hall of Realms lies near the Paseo del Prado and the Retiro park, in the heart of Madrid, reachable on foot. You mainly admire its exterior; the building, destined to become an extension of the Prado Museum, follows its own conditions of access, which vary. It is best to check the arrangements before coming.

Why is the Hall of Realms called this in Madrid?

Because of the paintings of its ceiling, which represent the coats of arms of the twenty-four kingdoms and territories under the control of the Spanish monarchy; it is one of the rare vestiges of the former Buen Retiro Palace.

Where is the Hall of Realms?

Near the Paseo del Prado and the Retiro park, in the heart of Madrid, in Spain.