For a feel of royalty while traveling through Madrid, you need not go far, just to the Palacio Real, or the Royal Palace. An astounding building, it has nearly 3000 rooms, not to mention it’s 40 staircases, and 240 balconies. When it comes to the magnitude of the building, it only comes second to Versailles.

When adding the palace to your tourist destinations, you will be amazed at its magnitude. While less than 10 percent of the palace is open to the public, you will not even be able to see that portion of the structure in a single day. What you will see is astounding attention to detail in construction and decoration from the lush tapestries to the rococo decorations including porcelain and other precious treasures

The palace was originally created for Phillip V. It was then the location of the power of Spain and ruling much of the known-world of that time. The Palacio Real was occupied by a number of monarchs in Spain, the last being Alfonso XIII who lived there until 1931.

The Madrid destination may have a French Classical appearance to its architecture now, but its history was very different. The site was original Alcázar, a Moorish fortress constructed in the 9th century. It was destroyed by fire in 1734.

When you are traveling the palace grounds, there are some unique statues to behold. Included in the display are Montezuma, the Aztec king, and Alahualpa, an Incan prince.

As a tourist to the palace, you may opt to be guided through the grounds through a two-hour presentation. On this tour, you will see the breathtaking ceramic walls and amazing sparkling chandeliers of the Salón de Gasparini. You will also get a feel for what formal dinners would be like, with a tour through the banquet hall that can hold over 100 guests.

Another astounding area to look upon is the throne room. This is the room that held one of the superpowers of the world in the 18th century. The throne room has two seats that royalty would use to send their influence to the world in the form of edicts.

You can also see how the power of the throne was backed up with a tour through the royal armory with it’s display of armor and weapons, as well as torture devices that were used in the time of the Spanish Inquisition.

Another stop on the tour will be the Royal Library, or Biblioteca Real. Among the more impressive items on the shelves, an original, first edition of Cervantes Don Quixote, as well as a set of Stradivarius instruments.

If you ever wondered what medical care of the days of old was like, you will get that answer in the Royal Pharmacy. In this room you will see the instruments that were used to treat ailments of the royal family.

While a portion of the palace is a tourist attraction, many of the areas are still working facilities. You can watch the changing of the guard outside, and some days the pharmacy will be closed due to official functions.

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Though most people imagine their wedding as something that happens in spring or summer, a winter wedding can be just as beautiful. But of course, with winter weddings come winter honeymoon destinations, and the advent of colder weather and snow means needing to get creative about your winter honeymoon destinations. However, whether you work to find somewhere that still has great weather in the winter or find a destination that you can enjoy in the snow, there are plenty of great winter honeymoon destinations out there. Here are a few:

Some winter honeymoon destinations like Venice, Italy, make for a beautiful honeymoon any time of year, but the advantage of a winter honeymoon there is that you beat the crowds and the higher prices you’d see during the busy season. Best of all, Venice only gets snow on a few days a year, so you’ll still be able to enjoy a romantic ride along the canals without getting buried in white powder.

If you don’t mind truly cold weather, then try some winter honeymoon destinations that use the cold as an attraction. For instance, every year in Quebec, an ice hotel is erected for guests that want a truly unique stay in a cold destination. With a movie theater and a chapel for those looking to also hold their wedding in the cold, this ice hotel is a chilly way to start off your new life with your spouse! Another great way to enjoy cold winter honeymoon destinations is with a cruise. Cold-weather cruises can be an experience as unique as their counterparts from warmer waters. Take a flight to Alaska and enjoy a winter cruise where you can watch stunning icebergs and glaciers, and enjoy your honeymoon in a nontraditional way.

Still, some people want winter honeymoon destinations that are warmer, and it’s understandable! A break from the cold and snow is a great way to spend a honeymoon. For such a trip, Hawaii is a great destination, any time of year. With an average winter temperature of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the tropics make a great place for you to celebrate a new marriage and to soak up a little sun while your home is still under snow. So, give the sun and sand a go for your honeymoon! So whether your destination is somewhere romantic, somewhere extra cold, or whether you go for warm waters, keep an open mind and plan a great winter honeymoon.

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