The Madrid Royal Palace (aka Palace of the East, National Palace) remains one of its most popular monuments. Madrid used to have a Muslim fortress but this burned down in 1734. King Felipe V ordered the palace built on the site, and the monument was completed in 1764. The royal family no longer resides here, but the building is used for ceremonies. It comprises 2,800 rooms, 50 of which are seen in the mandatory hour-long guided tour in any of a variety of languages. On Wednesdays entrance is free to EU citizens carrying their passports. The nearest underground station is Opera.
Landmarks & monuments 
Museums 
