The Christmas Fire That Changed Madrid

Madrid in the early 18th century was a city anchored by its ancient royal residence, the Royal Alcázar. The Alcázar had stood, layer upon layer of history, since its origins as a 9th-century Muslim fortress and later as a grand residence of the Habsburgs. On 24 December 1734, on a cold Christmas Eve, a disaster struck that would reshape the heart of the Spanish monarchy. From the ashes would rise a new Bourbon-friendly palace, today’s Palacio Real. Listen and learn more. Become a part of the Spain Domain community. You can subscribe to our podcasts on Spotify, Amazon, Apple and […]