Around the world there are hundreds of
palaces
that are witnesses of glorious past years.
From times when emperors extended empires and rewarded themselves with
gigantic residences
.
From times when upper-class families wanted to show off their wealth.
From times when less was not more.
They are buildings that exude opulence and beauty.
With dozens of rooms and immense gardens, these buildings, which were used to house royalty, political officials and people from the highest social spheres, today are tourist attractions that allow you to imagine what life was like back
then
.
Among the best known are Buckingham Palace in London and the Palace of Versailles, in the vicinity of Paris, but there are many others that are also
must-sees
and invite you to feel part of the aristocracy while visiting every corner.
Next, 15 palaces located in different countries that have their
doors open
to fascinate tourists.
1. Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy
It took 20 years to build this royal residence, considered one of the
most prestigious
in all of Europe.
Located in the Campania region, the foundation stone was laid by Charles VII, king of the new kingdom of Naples - Charles III of Spain - on January 20, 1752.
View of Via d'Acqua: 3 km of ponds, in the Palace of Caserta.
Photo Shutterstock.
It was designed by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli and has 45,000 square meters, 5 floors,
1,400 rooms
and 1,742 windows.
Vanvitelli divided it into
four parts
: the southwest sector was reserved for the King and is called the 19th century departments.
The southeastern part, meanwhile, was destined for the crown prince, and is known today as the 18th century departments.
The other two dependencies are called old and new departments.
All four sectors are
open to the public
.
The external beauty is not wasted either, since its gardens compete with those of Versailles: fountains, waterfalls, forests and more than 200 species of plants in
123 hectares
.
One of its main attractions is the
Via d'Acqua
, a succession of ponds next to each other that stretches for three kilometers.
The Palace of Caserta was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1997.
This is the palace inside.
Photo Shutterstock.
The entrance to know the park and the palace costs
15 dollars
.
For about three dollars more you can hire a combi service to get from one end of the park to the other.
More information
: reggiadicaserta.cultura.gov.it.
2. Topkapi Palace, Turkey
It is one of the most visited attractions in
Istanbul
.
Built between 1460 and 1478 by order of Sultan Mehmed II, it functioned as the administrative and educational center of the Ottoman Empire for about 400 years.
Topkapi Palace is one of the must-sees in Istanbul.
Photo Shutterstock.
In its
700,000 square meters
there are four patios and more than 400 rooms.
About 4,000 people lived in the palace.
Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, it attracts more than
three million
tourists a year
thanks to its architecture and cultural importance.
The attractions are numerous.
One of them is the
Imperial Treasury
, one of the most important collections of arms and armor in the world, with 52,000 objects on display.
You can also visit the Imperial Council Hall, the Tower of Justice and the palace kitchen, where there is a collection of almost 12 thousand pieces of porcelain.
View to one of the rooms of the Harem.
Photo Shutterstock.
The
Harem
is the most prominent and luxurious part of the palace.
There lived the Sultan, his family and around 500 women who were given education.
The palace is open every day, except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission starts at
$26
per person.
Access to the Harem is charged separately.
More information
: www.millisaraylar.gov.tr/en/saray-kosk-ve-kasirlar/topkapi-sarayi
3. Peterhof Palace, Russia
Its name in Russian is
Petrodvorets
, although its builder, Peter the Great, preferred to call it Peterhof, in German.
Anyway, it is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular palaces in the world.
Located 40 minutes from Saint Petersburg, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, it served as the
summer residence
of the tsars.
View of the main building, called the Grand Palace of Peterhof.
Photo Shutterstock.
It was built between 1714 and 1723 as a triumphal monument glorifying the greatness of Russia, gaining access to the Baltic during the Great Northern War (against Sweden).
The main building, known as the
Peterhof Grand Palace
, underwent various modifications over the years.
In the time of Peter I, it was a small two-story building, but in 1846, by order of Emperor Nicholas I, a third floor was created in the eastern wing facing the upper garden.
The residence was used for multiple social celebrations taking advantage of its capacity for
three thousand guests
.
Dances, weddings and baptisms were held, among many other events.
The Grand Cascade is one of the main attractions in Peterhof.
Photo Shutterstock.
During World War II, the Grand Palace was burnt down, and the first restored rooms reopened in May 1964.
One of its biggest attractions is the
Great Cascade
, which has three levels and 225 bronze, lead and marble sculptures around it, and presides over the spectacular gardens full of fountains and sculptures.
Admission is
$22
.
More information
: en.peterhofmuseum.ru
4.Warwick Castle, England
With architecture intact and staff in
period clothing
, visitors to this castle located some 150 km northwest of London are immediately transported back centuries.
It is ideal to visit it with children since there are activities designed for them.
Photo Shutterstock.
The
guided tour
inside the castle is a great opportunity to learn about the rich history of this construction, which began in 1068 with William the Conqueror, and the opulence of those times.
During the tour you visit the dining room, different rooms, a bedroom and a powder room.
In each of the places you can see different
wax characters
made in life size, which recreate those who inhabited each of these spaces.
You can also see the two towers, which were used to accommodate the Count's guests;
the wall, which served to protect itself from enemy soldiers;
and The Peacock Gardens, teeming with peacocks.
The interior of Warwick is covered by guided tours.
Photo Shutterstock.
This castle is
ideal to visit with children
because in the gardens, at different times, you can enjoy different
shows
, such as an exhibition of birds and the art of bow and arrow, as well as themed guided tours.
There are different entrance tickets.
The basic of a day costs from
29 dollars
.
More information
: www.warwick-castle.com
5. Pena National Palace, Portugal
At the top of a mountain in
Sintra
, 28 km northwest of Lisbon, stands this
multicolored
construction , symbol of a town declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
The palace was declared a National Monument.
Photo Shutterstock.
The history of this palace begins in the 12th century, when in that same place there was a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Pena and King Manuel I had a
monastery
built for the Order of São Jerónimo.
In 1755 an earthquake left it in ruins, and years later Ferdinand II, king consort of Queen María II, acquired the monastery with personal assets with the idea of restoring it, but his enthusiasm led him to build a large palace, which
included
walkways , watchtowers, an access tunnel and even a
drawbridge
.
The Palacio da Pena was declared a National Monument in 1910 and is the most important center of the
Cultural Landscape of Sintra
.
It is famous for the variety of colors it has on the façade.
Photo Shutterstock.
Today it is possible to visit the interior and its garden, discover typical Portuguese elements such as
blue tiles
, but also elements that reveal the medieval and Moorish inspiration.
The palace is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Admission for adults is
$15
.
The park is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is free.
More information
: www.parquesdesintra.pt
6. Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
Its more than 135,000 square meters and 3,418 rooms make it the
largest palace in Western Europe
and one of the largest in the world.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is still an official residence.
Photo Shutterstock.
In addition, it is one of the few official residences of
heads of state
that is open to the public.
Almost two million visitors enter every year to discover its corners, its decoration and its works of art.
The tour allows you to appreciate the
varied tastes
of the different monarchs that inhabited it.
For example, Carlos IV owes important neoclassical pieces and French furniture, and Fernando VII, the collection of French bronze and crystal chandeliers.
The
Royal Armory
is undoubtedly one of the preferred rooms.
One of the most important weapons collections in Europe is exhibited there, along with that of Vienna.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest in Western Europe.
Photo Shutterstock.
The gardens, popularly known as
Campo del Moro
, are also open to the public.
The current design was commissioned by Queen Regent María Cristina de Habsburgo, with curved paths.
From Monday to Saturday, the palace is open from 10am to 6pm, last entry is at 5pm. The gardens are open from 10am to 6pm. On Sunday the palace is open from 10am to 4pm and the gardens from 10am to 6pm.
Admission is
$13
.
From Monday to Thursday from 16 to 18, access is
free
.
More information:
www.patrimonionacional.es
7. Potala Palace, China
Located
at the top of the Red Mountain
and in the center of Lhasa, autonomous region of
Tibet
, at 3,700 meters high, this palace is a work of art of Tibetan architecture.
At the top of the hill, the
Red Palace
stands out , surrounded by white buildings, which are also part of this complex, which functioned as the
residence of the Dalai Lama
from 1649 to 1959.
The palace was the home of the Dalai Lama.
Photo Shutterstock.
The place had
numerous functions
;
among others, residence, organization office, school and space for religious acts.
It covers an area of
400,000 square meters
, with a construction area of 130,000 square meters.
Visitors can see 8 golden stupas (spiritual monuments) of the Dalai Lama, 5 three-dimensional mandalas and more than 70,000 cultural pieces such as porcelain, gold, silver and bronze items, Buddha statues, pagodas (buildings used for worship), thangkas ( Tibetan paintings on cloth) and costumes in the palace.
Tourists dressed in Tibetan clothing pose with the palace in the background.
AP Photo/ Mark Schiefelbein.
The ticket price varies depending on the season.
From May 1 to October 31, the price is
approximately
30 dollars ;
from November 1 to April 30 the value is 15 dollars.
More information
: www.potalapalace.cn;
whc.unesco.org/en/list/707
8. Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
This impressive palace is the
main attraction
of Vienna, the capital of Austria: it receives no less than two million tourists a year.
Spring postcard of the Schönbrunn Palace with its flowery garden.
Photo Shutterstock.
The building was built by the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach under the orders of Emperor Leopold I, who wanted an
imperial hunting lodge
for his son, Crown Prince Joseph, later to become Emperor Joseph I.
The architect replaced the
château de plaisance
(recreation or pleasure palace) built on this site for the Dowager Empress Eleonora de Gonzaga in 1642 with this building, which throughout the 18th century became a palatial imperial
residence
.
Various types of visits
are offered at Schönbrunn Palace
, which include different proposals.
Depending on the chosen tour, you can visit the state rooms and private rooms of Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi, the 18th century salons from the time of Maria Theresa, the private sector of the imperial couple Franz Joseph and Elisabeth, works of art and gardens, among other sites.
Two million tourists a year come to see this historic site in Vienna.
Photo Shutterstock.
Admission varies depending on the tour to take, but the tours start at
$24
per adult.
The palace is open every day, including holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.;
the gardens, from 6.30 to 17.30.
More information
: www.schoenbrunn.at
9. Hawa Mahal, India
This five-storied palace located in Badi Choupad, Jaipur's Pink City, was built in the shape of
Krishna's crown
because Sarai Pratap Singh, the ruler of the place, was a devotee of this Hindu god.
A color fact: this palace is the
tallest building in the world without foundations
.
It managed to stay on its feet due to its curved shape.
The crown shape of the building to collapse, since it has no foundation.
Photo Shutterstock
Of the external façade, the 953 windows stand out, which fulfilled two objectives: to let the breeze in and thus function as a summer palace and that the royal Rajput ladies, who should not be seen
by
strangers or appear in any public area, could enjoy celebrations or scenes of daily life without being discovered.
In contrast to the external beauty, the interiors of the Mahal are much simpler, but offer the
best view of the
Jaipur city.
It is recommended to visit it early in the morning, when the sun illuminates the whole place.
Hawa Mahal is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and does not close on public holidays.
Admission is about 60 cents.
More information
: www.hawa-mahal.com
10. Sanssouci Palace, Germany
It was the favorite home of Emperor Frederick II the Great, King of Prussia.
Located in
Potsdam
, the palace was built between 1745 and 1747 by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, and functioned as a
summer residence
.
The palace was built between a large vineyard.
Photo Shutterstock.
This palace is considered a very important work of German
Rococo architecture
.
The rooms, characterized by their elegance, preserve the
original decoration
, which includes works by Watteau, Panini and Pesne.
The art gallery, which has almost 180 works of art, and the Palace of the New Chambers, as the residence for guests is known, are also visited during the visit to Sanssouci.
The construction is surrounded by plants and an outstanding
vineyard
.
The monarch grew plums, figs and grapes there.
Aerial view of the palace and its immense garden.
Photo Shutterstock.
Until March 31, the palace remains closed on Mondays.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Admission is
$24
.
More information
: www.spsg.de
11. Royal Pavilion in Brighton, England
The Royal Pavilion, as its name translates into Spanish, was built as the
seaside
pleasure palace of King George IV.
But it underwent changes throughout its long history.
During the first months of World War I it was converted into a
military hospital
.
It was first used for Indian Army soldiers fighting for the British on the Western Front.
The Royal Pavilion served as a military hospital and royal residence.
Photo Shutterstock.
In 1920 a restoration
program began
, which had several breaks such as World War II, a fire in 1975 and accidents typical of the process.
During the work, all the available evidence was examined, from original fragments, drawings and engravings to archives and stories, to obtain a decoration
very similar
to the original.
Some of the outstanding places to visit during the visit are the garden, the banquet room, the kitchen, the living room and the music room, among others.
The numerous domes are a differential of the Royal Pavillion.
Photo Mervyn Mitchell.
The palace is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
The entrance for people over 19 years old is
22 dollars
, from 5 to 18 years old, 13.
More information
: brightonmuseums.org.uk
12. Summer Palace in Beijing, China
It functioned as
a summer refuge
for the Qing dynasty to escape the hot days spent in the Forbidden City, another residence of the royal family that today is also a great attraction for tourists.
In the 290 hectares of the Summer Palace, what predominates is the
Kunming Lake
,
around which the buildings and gardens are located.
The Beijing Summer Palace is built around Kunming Lake.
Photo Shutterstock.
Those who think of visiting it should know that you have to allocate
several hours
to it .
Some of the most recommended sites of interest are the Buddha Fragrance Tower, which offers unmissable views;
the Garden of Virtue and Harmony, a theater where traditional dance shows are still offered;
and Suzhou Street, a shopping street with shops offering traditional products.
Un gran imperdible es la Gran Galería, un pasillo cubierto que recorre 728 metros del palacio y cuenta con vigas de madera decoradas con más de 14.000 pinturas que muestran escenas de la historia y la mitología china.
Hasta el 31 de marzo, abre de 6.30 a 19. La entrada para el palacio y el jardín sale casi 8 dólares.
Más información: www.summerpalace-china.com
13. Castillo de Himeji, Japón
También conocido como Castillo de la garza blanca por su majestuosa y elegante impronta de color blanco, es uno de los más famosos de Japón, y fue declarado Tesoro Nacional de ese país y Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco.
Castillo de Himeji este año cumple 30 años como Patrimonio de la Humanidad. Foto Shutterstock.
La estructura actual fue diseñada y supervisada por Ikeda Terumasa, un señor feudal, en 1601, y finalizó alrededor de 1609. El castillo se convirtió en una fortaleza impenetrable gracias al uso de tecnologías defensivas revolucionarias para la época.
Las instalaciones son grandes y hay muchas cosas para ver. Un imperdible es llegar a la cima del fuerte principal a través de una empinada escalera para obtener las mejores vistas. Otra visita obligada es al patio de armas occidental, que suele ser pasado por alto por quienes llegan por primera vez.
Dato a tener en cuenta: en 2023, el castillo de Himeji cumple 30 años desde su designación como Patrimonio de la Humanidad, y durante todo el año se celebrarán eventos especiales por su aniversario, incluida la apertura al público de zonas que habitualmente están cerradas.
La entrada para adultos cuesta aproximadamente 9 dólares; niños y estudiantes, casi 3.
Más información: visit-himeji.com
14. Gran Palacio Real de Bangkok, Tailandia
Es la atracción principal de la capital tailandesa. Se trata de un complejo de edificaciones que ocupa una superficie de 218.000 metros cuadrados donde hay salas reales y varias oficinas gubernamentales.
Dentro del Gran Palacio Real de Bangkok está el Buda más venerado.
Además, allí está el renombrado Templo del Buda Esmeralda, un lugar de culto donde se encuentra una figura de Buda tallada en jade en el siglo XV, de apenas 45 centímetros de altura. Es el Buda más valioso y venerado del país.
El palacio data de 1782, después de que el rey Rama I ascendiera al trono. Antes de eso, el palacio real y el centro de administración estaban ubicados en Thonburi, en la orilla oeste del río Chao Phraya. El nuevo rey consideró que la antigua capital no era adecuada y decidió establecer una nueva al otro lado del río.
Información importante: no está permitido el ingreso con pantalón corto o remeras sin mangas. Además, hay que quitarse los zapatos en cada sala donde haya una imagen de Buda.
En los jardines del palacio se encuentran numerosas estatuas gigantes.
Las visitas se realizan todos los días de 8.30 a 15.30. La entrada para extranjeros sale poco más de 15 dólares.
Más información: www.royalgrandpalace.th
15. Palacio Imperial, Brasil
Fue levantado entre 1845 y 1862 por órdenes del emperador Pedro II de Brasil y marcó el inicio de la creación de Petrópolis, ciudad en la que se encuentra, donde es conocido también como Museo Imperial..
El edificio es de estilo neoclásico y se trata de uno de los monumentos arquitectónicos más importantes de Brasil. Tiene pisos de mármol de Carrara y mármol negro originario de Bélgica, aunque también cuenta con pisos y marcos de madera.
Museo Imperial de Brasil. Foto Embratur.
In 1943, the then President Getúlio Vargas decreed the creation of the museum, in which the country's main collection related to the
Brazilian Empire
is exhibited , especially the so-called Second Empire, the period ruled by Edro II.
Nearly
300 thousand pieces
are exhibited in the museum and numerous events, exhibitions and educational projects are also carried out.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission costs almost
two dollars
.
Children under 5 and over 80, free.
More information
: museuimperial.museus.gov.br
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