Misplaced Pages

#407592

73-631: The garden was founded on October 17, 1755, by King Ferdinand VI , and installed in the Orchard of Migas Calientes, near what today is called Puerta de Hierro, on the banks of the Manzanares River. It contained more than 2,000 plants collected by José Quer y Martínez , botanist and surgeon. In 1774 King Charles III ordered the garden moved to its current location on the Paseo del Prado . This new site opened in 1781. Inside an area defined by wrought iron fencing,

146-620: A modern state - or at least, to what it was used to before his arrival in Castile. Instead of demolishing the uncomfortable and old-fashioned medieval castle (a decision thought to be too radical), the Emperor decided to use it as the basis for the construction of a palace. The new construction bore the name of the original fortress, the Royal Alcázar of Madrid, despite having lost its military function centuries earlier. Construction started in 1537, under

219-650: A number of small lodges. During the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War , Spain reinforced its military might. The main conflict was its confrontation with Portugal over the colony of Sacramento , from which British contraband was transferred down the Río de la Plata . In 1750 José de Carvajal helped Spain and Portugal strike a deal. Portugal agreed to renounce the colony and its claim to free navigation down

292-621: A reduction of subsidies by the state to the Cortes and the army. The opposition by the nobility caused the abandonment of the project. In 1752, the bank Giro Real was created. It favored the transfer of public and private funds outside of Spain keeping all of the foreign exchanges in the hands of the Royal Treasury, enriching the State. It is considered the predecessor to the Bank of San Carlos , introduced during

365-508: A right frontal lobe syndrome. As the couple had no children, Ferdinand VI was succeeded as King by his half-brother Charles III . Historian Stanley G. Payne regards him positively, writing that "The great virtue of Fernando VI as ruler was that he kept Spain at peace and avoided further entanglement in European struggles". However, he also notes that "The last five years of Fernando VI, who ultimately lapsed into madness like his father , were

438-517: A royal palace. The interior section between the two original towers of the southern façade took on a ceremonial function, while the northern wing was used as the service area. The western area was reserved for the King's chambers, with the Queen's chambers to the east. The areas were separated by two large courtyards, in keeping with the structure designed by de Covarrubias. This layout of the areas for different uses

511-416: A state of prostration in which he would not even dress, but wandered unshaven, unwashed and in a nightgown about his park. Another opinion is that Ferdinand VI suffered a rapidly progressive clinical syndrome where behavioral disorganization with apathy and impulsivity , loss of judgment, and epileptic seizures of the right frontal lobe semiology were predominant. This semiology is highly suggestive of

584-563: A supporter of the alliance with Great Britain. The fight between both ended in 1754 with the death of Carvajal and the fall of Ensenada, after which Ricardo Wall became the most powerful advisor to the monarch. The most important tasks during the reign of Ferdinand VI were carried out by the Marquis of Ensenada, the Secretary of the Treasury, Navy and Indies . He suggested that the state help modernize

657-588: A time of vacuity and inaction." A fictionalized version of Ferdinand VI appears in the 2011 adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides . In the film, after learning about the discovery of the Fountain of Youth , Ferdinand (portrayed by Sebastian Armesto ) sends his most trusted agent, known only as "The Spaniard", to find and destroy the Fountain, because he saw it as the abomination in

730-702: A window). The collection of jewels included the Pilgrim Pearl and the El Estanque diamond. The rescue of several paintings on the second floor of the Alcázar was abandoned due to the difficulties posed by their size and location at various heights and in different rooms. Some paintings were fixed to the walls, so a large number of those kept in the building (including La Expulsión de los moriscos by Velázquez) were lost. Others such as Las Meninas (also by Velázquez) were saved by being removed from their frames and thrown from

803-596: The Parque del Buen Retiro . Between 1880 and 1890 the garden suffered heavy losses, first losing 2 hectares (4.9 acres) to the Ministry of Agriculture in 1882, then losing 564 trees in 1886 to a cyclone. Since 1939 the garden has been dependent on the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). In 1942 the garden was given the heritage listing Artistic Garden . In 1974, after decades of hardship and neglect,

SECTION 10

#1732848111408

876-526: The Alcázar and ordered the construction of a second palace, the Buen Retiro Palace , which today also no longer exists. Walls were erected, to the east of the city, on the grounds which are now home to the Retiro Park . The project, started by Philip III and finished by Philip IV continued throughout the reign of Charles II , in the form of minor alterations and renovations. The Queen's Tower, located on

949-518: The Alcázar into its temporary residence, and by the end of the fifteenth century it was one of the main fortresses in the Crown of Castile , as well as the seat of the royal court. In keeping with its new function, the castle incorporated the word royal into its name, indicating its exclusive use by the Castilian monarchy. King Henry III of Castile instigated the construction of different towers which changed

1022-558: The Alcázar's interior was initially the responsibility of the architect Teodoro Ardemans , who was later replaced by René Carlier. On 24 December 1734, with the Court having moved to the El Pardo Palace , a fire broke out at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid. Thought to have started in a room of the court artist Jean Ranc , the fire spread quickly and uncontrollably. It raged for four days and was so intense that some silver objects were melted by

1095-517: The Alcázar, with one of his daughters, Joanna la Beltraneja , being born there on 28 February 1462. In 1476, Juana la Beltraneja's followers were besieged in the Alcázar because of the War of the Castilian Succession with Queen Isabella I over the throne. The area suffered considerable damage during the siege. The Royal Alcázar of Madrid once again suffered serious damage during the Revolt of

1168-535: The Comuneros , which occurred from 1520 to 1522, under the reign of Charles I . Considering the state of the building, Charles I decided to extend it; this is considered to be the first important building work in the history of the Alcázar. The redesign was probably carried out alongside the Emperor's wish to establish the court in the city of Madrid , something which did not happen until the reign of Philip II . Luis Cabrera de Córdoba (16th century), mentioned Charles in

1241-512: The Islamic fortress was never located under the royal palace. Over the course of time, the old castle was extended, keeping the original structure within. This is evident from seventeenth century engravings and paintings, where medieval-styled semi-circular turrets can be seen on the western side by the Manzanares, in contrast to the architecture of the southern façade. The Trastámara dynasty turned

1314-622: The Jesuits, and Father Rávago, confessor of the King and members of the Society of Jesus , were fired, accused of hindering the agreements with Portugal. During his last year of reign, Ferdinand VI was rapidly losing his mental capacity and he was held in the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón until his death on 10 August 1759. That period of time between August 1758 and August 1759 is known in Spanish historiography as

1387-573: The Muslims, then extended and enlarged over the centuries, particularly after 1560. It was at this time that the fortress was converted into a royal palace, and Madrid became the capital of the Spanish Empire . Despite being a palace, the great building kept its original Arabic title of Alcázar ( English : "castle"). The first extension to the building was commissioned by King Charles I ( Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor ) and completed in 1537. Its exterior

1460-656: The Río de la Plata. In return, Spain ceded to Portugal two regions on the Brazilian border, one in the Amazon and the other to the south, in which were seven of the thirty Jesuit Guaraní towns. The Spanish had to expel the missionaries, generating a conflict with the Guaraní people that lasted eleven years. The conflict over the towns provoked a crisis in the Spanish Court. Ensenada, favorable to

1533-484: The architectural characteristics of the Golden Tower, as well as redesigning the Queen's rooms. However, the work to the façade was eventually completed by Juan Gómez de Mora , the preceding architect's nephew, who introduced important innovations to his uncle's design, following the usual Baroque style of the time. The new design, started in 1610 and finished in 1636 during the reign of Philip IV , would survive until

SECTION 20

#1732848111408

1606-407: The area—an observation point developed into a small fort—although there is currently a lack of evidence as the place was later quarried for building material by Christians. After the conquest of Madrid in 1083 by Alfonso VI of León and Castile , the King needed a bigger fortress in order to accommodate his royal court . A new fortress was built to the north of the first walled enclosure — therefore,

1679-652: The building into a palace, especially from 1561, when he decided to establish the court permanently in Madrid . The monarch ordered the refurbishment of his chambers as well as other rooms, and put special effort into their decoration, using tailors, glaziers, carpenters, painters, sculptors and other artisans and artists. Many of these tradesmen came from the Netherlands , Italy and France . The works, which lasted from 1561 until 1598, were initially managed by Gaspar de la Vega . The Golden Tower (la Torre Dorada), whose construction

1752-487: The building's interior labyrinth-like. Many of the private rooms were dark and had no windows for ventilation, something much sought-after in the hot climate of Madrid. The main area of asymmetry was the western façade, which, being situated on the edge of the ravine of the Manzanares Valley was the least visible from the urban area of Madrid. However, at the same time, it was the first view seen by visitors coming into

1825-513: The castle, but also a mosque and the home of the governor (or emir). Its steep location near the Altos de Rebeque and overlooking the path of the River Manzanares below was of great strategic importance, being a key factor in the defence of Toledo from frequent Christian incursions into the lands of al-Andalus . This structure probably followed the progression of similar military constructions in

1898-520: The city from the Segovia Bridge . It was this façade which underwent the fewest redesigns and as a consequence retained the most medieval character of the building. It was made entirely of stone, with four turrets, although several windows bigger than those in the old fortress had been built. The four turrets were finished with conical slate spires, similar to those on the Alcázar of Segovia , which reduced

1971-593: The clergy. King Ferdinand helped create the Royal Academy of the Fine Arts of San Fernando in 1752. The noted composer Domenico Scarlatti , music teacher to Queen Barbara, wrote many of his 555 harpsichord sonatas at Ferdinand's court. In 1751, Ferdinand VI banned freemasonry in Spain , following a papal condemnation in 1738 . During the reign of his successor, Charles III , freemasonry would make its return to Spain in

2044-420: The construction of the current Royal Palace of Madrid , which spanned three decades. The new building was used as a residence for the first time in 1764 by Charles III . Despite the efforts to give the building a more harmonious design, the modifications, extensions and refurbishments carried out over the centuries did not achieve this goal. French and Italian visitors criticised the irregular façades and deemed

2117-473: The country. To him, this was necessary to maintain a position of exterior strength so that France and Great Britain would consider Spain as an ally without supposing Spain's renunciation of its claim to Gibraltar . A new model of the Treasury was suggested by Ensenada in 1749. He proposed substitution of the traditional taxes with a special tax, the cadastre , that weighed the economic capacity of each contributor based on their property holdings. He also proposed

2190-411: The design by architects Francesco Sabatini and Juan de Villanueva organized the garden into three tiered terraces, arranging plants according to the method of Linnaeus. Its mission was not only to exhibit plants, but also to teach botany, promote expeditions for the discovery of new plant species and classify them. There was a particular interest in the botany of Spain's colonial possessions. The garden

2263-400: The direction of the architects Luis de Vega and Alonso de Covarrubias , who renovated the old buildings around the King's Courtyard (Patio del Rey) in the medieval castle. The most valuable contribution, however, was the construction of the newly designed Queen's rooms, spread around the Queen's Courtyard (Patio de la Reina). The so-called Tower of Charles V was built in one of the corners of

Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid - Misplaced Pages Continue

2336-453: The eyes of God . Also, his residence, for unknown reasons, is situated in Cádiz , not in Madrid , the capital of Spain . Royal Alc%C3%A1zar of Madrid The Royal Alcázar of Madrid ( Spanish : Real Alcázar de Madrid ) was a fortress located at the site of today's Royal Palace of Madrid , Madrid , Spain . The structure was originally built in the second half of the ninth century by

2409-467: The fire as in trying to rescue people and valuables) were the monks from the monastery of San Gil. Initially, the doors of the Alcázar were kept closed for fear of looting. This meant that occupants had little time to evacuate. It was an enormous effort to salvage the religious objects kept in the Royal Chapel, as well as cash and jewels belonging to the royal family (a chest full of coins was thrown from

2482-492: The fire of 1734. The enclosure of the exterior plaza was also completed under de Mora. The development gained brightness and balance, thanks to a series of windows and columns from the two symmetrical towers (as illustrated below). The other façades were also remodelled, with the exception of the western side that retained the look of the old medieval castle. Philip IV gave the building a more harmonious appearance, despite his indifference towards it. The monarch refused to live in

2555-506: The following document, "The Catholic King Philip II, considering the city of Toledo unsuitable, respected the wish of his father, the Emperor Charles V to have the Court in the city of Madrid, establishing in Madrid its royal seat and the government of its monarchy." From this perspective, one can understand the efforts of Charles V to provide the city with a royal residence - the priority of

2628-596: The garden was closed to the public for restoration work to its original plan. It reopened in 1981. In the 21st century it became part of a World Heritage Site , "Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences". Today's garden is divided into seven major outdoor sections and five greenhouses which allow the cultivation of species which are not suited to Madrid's Continental Mediterranean climate . Total collections include about 90,000 plants and flowers, and 1,500 trees. The garden's two greenhouses are divided into four rooms. The Graëlls greenhouse dates from

2701-433: The heat and other metal objects, along with precious stones, had to be discarded. According to Félix de Salabert, Marquis of Torrecillas, the first alarm was raised at approximately 15 minutes past midnight by one of the guards on duty. The festive nature of the day meant that the warning was ignored at first, since people were on their way to matins (night prayer service). The first to attempt help (as much in extinguishing

2774-465: The homes of the Archbishop of Toledo and the Marquis of Bedmar. A large part of the art collection had already been moved to the Buen Retiro Palace during the building work carried out on the Alcázar, which saved them from the fire. One of the major works lost was La Expulsión de los moriscos , by Diego Velázquez . This painting won a competition in 1627, the prize being the post of usher chamber. This

2847-457: The influence of his stepmother and her group of Italian courtiers. As king he followed a steady policy of neutrality in the conflict between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of Great Britain . He refused to be tempted by the offers of either kingdom into declaring war on the other. Prominent figures during his reign were Marquis of Ensenada , a Francophile; and José de Carvajal y Lancáster ,

2920-501: The inventories) Tintoretto , Paolo Veronese , Jusepe de Ribera , Hieronymus Bosch , Pieter Bruegel the Elder , Alonso Sánchez Coello , Anthony van Dyck , El Greco , Annibale Carracci , Leonardo da Vinci , Guido Reni , Raphael , Jacopo Bassano , Correggio , and many others. Among remaining sculptures are the bronze Medici lions from the Room of Mirrors, of which four now are present in

2993-465: The look of the building, giving it a more palatial feel. His son, John II , built the Royal Chapel and added a new room, known as the Sala Rica (the Room of Riches) for its lavish decoration. These two new elements, alongside the eastern façade, are thought to have increased the surface area of the old castle by approximately 20 percent. Henry IV of Castile was one of the kings who spent the most time at

Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid - Misplaced Pages Continue

3066-401: The military feel of the building. The remaining façades were built from red brick and granite (from Toledo ), which gave the building the characteristic colouring of Madrid's traditional architecture. These materials were abundant in the influential area of the city as clay is plentiful on the banks of the Manzanares and granite in the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama . The main entrance was on

3139-457: The monarch. The clash of styles was very noticeable with respect to the Golden Tower (incorporated by the King) and the two other medieval cuboid towers that took away light from the development. Upon taking the throne, Philip III , son of Philip II, set about making the southern façade his main project. The work, entrusted to the architect Francisco de Mora , involved blending the southern façade with

3212-463: The nineteenth century and exhibits tropical plants and bryophytes . The newer structure supports three climates: tropical, temperate, and desert. The herbarium is the largest in Spain and now contains over a million specimens from around the world. The oldest material consists of plants collected during scientific expeditions undertaken in the 18th and 19th centuries. As of 2016, the online herbarium's databases contained detailed information about all

3285-464: The northern façades, which now overlooks the Sabatini Gardens . These new additions are believed to have doubled the original footprint of the building. The project was dominated by unmistakable Renaissance features, visible in the main staircase and both the King's and Queen's Courtyards; adorned with archways and supported by columns, allowing light into the building. The extension by Charles V

3358-435: The painting Las Meninas by Velázquez , were saved. There is much documentation (numerous texts, engravings, plans, paintings and models) on the building layout and exterior between 1530 and 1734, when they were destroyed in a fire. However, images of the building's interior and references to its history are scarce. The first drawing of the Alcázar was done by Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen in 1534, three decades before Madrid

3431-449: The palace. Philip, the second oldest of his three brothers, only lived for two weeks, dying before Ferdinand was born, while Philip Peter died at the age of 7, when Ferdinand was six years old. At the age of 10, Ferdinand became Prince of Asturias after his oldest brother, Louis , died of smallpox at the age of 17, after only seven months as King following the abdication of their father. But on Elizabeth's insistence, Philip returned to

3504-446: The private sector. According to Ensenada, a powerful navy was fundamental to power of an overseas empire and aspirations of being respected by France and Great Britain. He increased the navy's budget and expanded the capacity of the shipyards of Cádiz , Ferrol , Cartagena and Havana which marked a commitment to extending the naval policies already underway in his predecessor's reign. Church relations were really tense from start of

3577-533: The public and markets were held there, selling a variety of goods. The Royal Alcázar held a huge art collection; it is estimated that at the time of the fire, there were close to 2,000 paintings (both originals and reproductions), of which some 500 were lost. The approximately 1,000 paintings which were rescued were kept in several buildings after the event, amongst them the San Gil Convent, the Royal Armoury and

3650-608: The reign of Charles III . Commerce was stimulated in the Americas, in an attempt to end the monopoly in the Indies and eliminate the injustices of colonial commerce. Ferdinand leaned toward registered ships rather than fleets of ships. The new system consisted of the substitution of the fleets and galleons so that a Spanish ship, previously authorized, could conduct trade freely in the Americas. This increased revenues and decreased fraud. Even so, this system provoked many protests among merchants in

3723-500: The reign of Philip V because of the recognition of Charles of Austria as the King of Spain by the pope. A regalist policy was maintained that pursued as much political as fiscal objectives and whose decisive achievement was the Concord of 1753. From this the right of universal patronage was obtained from Pope Benedict XIV , giving important economic benefits to the Crown and a great control over

SECTION 50

#1732848111408

3796-591: The site of the Armoury Plaza. The austere Royal Alcázar was in complete opposition with the French taste he was more familiar with in Versailles , hence his refurbishments' focus on the interior of the palace. The main rooms were redecorated in the style of French palaces. Queen Maria Luisa of Savoy was in charge of the work, assisted by her lady in waiting, Marie Anne de La Trémoille , princess of Ursins. The redesign of

3869-513: The son of King Philip V and Queen Maria Luisa . Ferdinand succeeded his father upon the latter's death in 1746. His reign proved peaceful, as he avoided involving Spain in any European conflicts. Moderate changes to Spain were initiated under the king, including reforms of taxation, advance commerce, and the Spanish navy, as well as a ban on freemasonry . However, the last years of Ferdinand's reign were marked by mental instability, much like his direct predecessor Philip V. Upon his death, Ferdinand

3942-402: The south-eastern side, was finished with a slate spire in keeping with the design of the Golden Tower on the other side, built during the reign of Philip II. The plaza built at the foot of the southern façade also incorporated different rooms and galleries. Philip V was proclaimed king of Spain on 24 November 1700, in a ceremony performed in the southern plaza of the palace – the plaza is now

4015-426: The southern façade, which proved especially problematic in the redesign of the building, due to being dominated by two large square spaces, built in medieval times. Both of these interrupted the longitudinal line of the façade which linked the Golden Tower (built under the reign of Philip II) with the Queen's Tower (built during the refurbishments under Philip III and Philip IV). With the design of Juan Gómez de Mora ,

4088-667: The specimens in the algae, bryophyte, lichen and fungi collections. Enlightenment in Spain Ferdinand VI of Spain Ferdinand VI ( Spanish : Fernando ; 23 September 1713 – 10 August 1759), called the Learned ( el Prudente ) and the Just ( el Justo ), was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death in 1759. He was the third ruler of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty. He was

4161-459: The throne room of the current Royal Palace of Madrid , and the remaining eight in the Museo del Prado. The developments made throughout the history of the Royal Alcázar of Madrid affected not just the building itself, but also the surrounding area, with a series of developments within its grounds. The Royal Stables were built to the south of the Alcázar, incorporating the rooms of the Royal Armoury. To

4234-459: The throne. However, due to Philip V's declined mental condition, Elizabeth was the more proactive of the two. Ferdinand, along with his brothers, the infantes , was tutored by the noble Giovanni Antonio Medrano . Ferdinand was by temperament melancholic, shy and distrustful of his own abilities. When complimented on his shooting, he replied, "It would be hard if there were not something I could do." Shooting and music were his only pleasures, and he

4307-422: The towers were hidden, giving more balance to the building as a whole. This can be seen in the 1704 drawing by Filippo Pallota. This architect also integrated the appearance of the Golden Tower and the Queen's Tower by adding a pyramid-shaped spire to the Queen's Tower, identical to that of the Golden Tower. The Royal Alcázar of Madrid was based on a rectangular plan. Its interior, divided by two large courtyards,

4380-817: The walls of the Octagonal Room ( Pieza Ochavada ). Among the Titian pieces which were destroyed was the series the Eleven Caesars , which was kept in the Great Room ( Salón Grande ), famous today for its reproductions and a series of engravings by Aegidius Sadeler II . Also lost were two of the four Furias series which were in the Room of Mirrors (the other two are now in the Museo del Prado in Madrid). As well as these works, an invaluable collection of work by artists such as (according to

4453-405: The windows. Fortunately, part of the art collection had previously been moved to the Buen Retiro Palace to protect them during the building work to the Royal Alcázar, which saved them from destruction. After the fire was extinguished, the building was reduced to rubble. The walls which remained were demolished, due to the extent of the damage. In 1738, four years after the fire, Philip V ordered

SECTION 60

#1732848111408

4526-453: The year without a king, due to the absence of the royal figure as ruler. The cause of the disease is still debated. Some authors suggest that the king suffered a depressive episode. The death of his wife Barbara, who had been devoted to him, and who carefully abstained from political intrigue, broke his heart. Between the date of her death in August 1758 and his own on 10 August 1759, he fell into

4599-401: Was a decisive step in his career and allowed him to take his first trip to Italy. He also painted an equestrian portrait of King Philip IV , as well as three of the four paintings from the mythological series ( Apollo, Adonis & Venus, and Psyche & Cupid ), of which only one was saved, Mercury & Argos . Several of the works lost in the fire were by Peter Paul Rubens . Among these

4672-524: Was an equestrian portrait of Philip IV specially commissioned by the King, which had pride of place in the Room of Mirrors (Salón de los Espejos), opposite the famous Titian portrait, Charles V at Muhlberg . The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is home to a good reproduction of the Rubens portrait. Also lost in the fire was another Rubens painting, El rapto de las Sabinas , and the twenty pieces of art that adorned

4745-510: Was constructed by the architect Juan Gómez de Mora in 1636 on a commission from King Philip IV . As famous for its artistic treasures as it is for its unusual architecture, it was the residence of the Spanish royal family and home of the court , until its destruction by fire during the reign of King Philip V (the first Bourbon king), on Christmas Eve 1734. Many artistic treasures were lost , including over 500 paintings. Other works, such as

4818-406: Was greatly augmented by a collection of 10,000 plants brought to Spain by Alessandro Malaspina in 1794. The Spanish War of Independence in 1808 caused the garden to be abandoned, but in 1857 director Mariano de la Paz Graells y de la Agüera revived it with a new greenhouse and refurbishment of the upper terrace. Under his leadership a zoo was created in the garden, but subsequently relocated to

4891-411: Was maintained until the fire of 1734. The construction of the Royal Armoury was also the work of Philip II. Demolished in 1894, in its location is now the crypt of Almudena Cathedral . By the end of Philip II's reign, and despite many improvements, the Royal Alcázar still had an incongruous appearance. Its main façade, on the south, retained medieval elements which did not match the alterations made by

4964-566: Was named as the capital of Spain. The drawing shows a castle divided into two main parts, which may correspond, at least partially, to the structure of the Muslim fortress on which it was built. This original fortress was erected by the Umayyad amir Muhammad I of Córdoba (852–886) between 860 and 880. The building was the central nucleus of the Islamic citadel of Mayrit, a walled district approximately 4 ha (9.9 acres) in size, incorporating not only

5037-418: Was organised asymmetrically (see image 3). The King's Courtyard, situated in the western part of what was the medieval castle, was smaller than the Queen's Courtyard on the opposite side. This courtyard divided the rooms built during the reign of Charles I. The Royal Chapel was erected between the courtyards under the orders of King John II of the Trastámara dynasty . For many years, the courtyards were open to

5110-625: Was succeeded by his younger half-brother, Charles III . Born at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid , Ferdinand was the last of the four sons that Philip V had in his first marriage to Maria Luisa of Savoy . The young infante endured a sad and lonely childhood. When he was just five months old, his mother died from tuberculosis , and seven months later, his father remarried the ambitious and domineering Elisabeth Farnese , who had no affection except for her own children, and looked upon Ferdinand and her other stepsons as an obstacle to their fortunes. The hypochondria of his father left Elisabeth mistress of

5183-406: Was the first important work carried out in the Alcázar, and was followed by numerous refurbishments and redesigns which were carried out almost continuously until the building's destruction in the 18th century. Philip II, as prince of Asturias , had shown great interest in the works brought about by his father, the Emperor Charles V, and as king, continued them. He accomplished the transformation of

5256-458: Was the generous patron of the famous singer Farinelli , whose voice soothed his melancholy. Ferdinand was married on January 20, 1729, to Infanta Barbara of Portugal , daughter of John V of Portugal and Maria Anna of Austria . He was sixteen and she was eighteen. When Ferdinand came to the throne in 1746, Spain was embroiled in the War of the Austrian Succession , which ended with little benefit for Spain. He started his reign by eliminating

5329-411: Was the most important in this time, was supervised by the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo . This vast tower dominated the south-western edge of the Alcázar and was crowned with a slate spire. The tower's design was reminiscent of the corner towers of the monastery of El Escorial , which was also under construction at the same time. Philip II oversaw the Royal Alcázar of Madrid's complete conversion to

#407592