The Palacio Real de Madrid or Palacio de Oriente is the largest royal palace in Western Europe at 135,000 square meters with 2,800 rooms. It is the official residence of the king of Spain, though King Juan Carlos and his family actually live in another palace and use the Palace of Madrid for State Ceremonies. The Royal Palace is located on the site of a 10th-century fortress built by the Emir of Cordoba Mohammad I. The fortress was later owned by the Taifa of Toledo, a Muslim medieval kingdom, until 1085, when Spain was reclaimed by Alfonso I. The Old Castle was built on the same site in the 16th century and when it burned down in 1734, it was replaced by a new palace commissioned by King Philip V and completed in 1764. The palace houses a large collection of artwork and historical relics, including armory, tapestries, furniture, ceramics, sculptures and a Stradivarius string quintet. The palace and its treasures are partially open to the public.
