James Metcalfe
Built initially by Phillip II of Spain during what would later be regarded as Spain’s ‘golden age’, the initial palace burnt down and was rebuilt by Philip V in 1755. Housing a rich history of monarchs and leaders, the palace acts as the official residence of the present-day Spanish monarchy, though the building is only used for state ceremonies these days. The palace has 135,000 square metres of floor space and contains a mammoth 3,418 rooms, making it the largest palace in Europe by floor area.
