During the 14th century, nobleman Saionji Kintsune built the Kitayama-dai villa here. In 1397, it was acquired and expanded by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. He called his lavish retirement estate Kitayama-den Palace. During the 15th century, his son, Yoshimochi, converted the elegant property into Rokuon-ji (Deer Garden Temple). More commonly, this national treasure is referred to as Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion Temple. The surrounding lake is aptly named Kyoko-chi meaning Mirror Pond. Dotting the reflective water are ten islets. The results: absolutely stunning!
1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, Japan
Tokyo’s most iconic site is the Imperial Palace viewed from Kyuden Plaza. The bridge leading to the main gate is Seimon Ishibashi. It is commonly called Nijūbashi. A nickname is Meganebashi meaning Eyeglasses Bridge because of the stone-arch design. In the foreground is Nijubashi-moat. This is one of several defensive waterways encircling the 1.3 square miles of the grounds. In the upper right corner is the main palace. The Kyūden is reserved for official ceremonies.
1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to 100-0001, Japan
Beginning in 1909, Golden Hall was the royal residence of King Sisavang Vong in Luang Prabang, Laos. After the dissolution of the monarchy in 1975, it became the National Museum. Locals call it Haw Kham. Several wonderful religious and royal exhibits are inside, including the gilded Prabang. This treasure is a 14th century Buddha and the city’s namesake. Oddly, you will also find lunar rocks that were a gift from President Nixon.
Haw Pha Bang, Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos
Since it was built in 1572, this Flemish Renaissance building has been a city hall, government headquarters, the governor’s home and, during WWII, a tavern for occupying Germans. Today, the Grand Ducal Palace is the residence and official offices of Grand Duke Henri. The royal mansion is guarded by soldiers from the Grand Ducal Guards.
19 Rue du marché-aux-Herbes 1728 Luxembourg
The Auberge de Castille was built by the Knights Hospitaller in 1574 but the current Baroque façade was added about 170 years later. In the center of this former inn is a bust of Grandmaster Manuel Pinto di Fonseca who commissioned the renovation. Towards the top are three coat-of-arms for Portugal, León and Castile. These represent the geographical regions that were part of the Knights of Malta order. Later it was the administrative offices of the French and then the British during their respective controls of the island. Since 1972 it has been the office of Malta’s Prime Minister.
Merchants St & In-Nofsinhar St, Valletta, Malta
It is easy to see why this is called the House of Columns. But it is also named The Palace because it once served as the residence for Mayan leaders. El Palacio must have been a very impressive perhaps even imposing structure. Its three stories were built on a 279 by 115 foot foundation in the center of the Mayan community.
Carretera federal 307 Cancún - Chetumal Km 230, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
This location began as a fort at the end of the 12th century. 100 years later, it became the palace of the ruling Grimaldi family for over 700 years. After 1814, when the Principality of Monaco was reestablished, the Palais Princier was extensively restored and it still is the monarch’s residence. When Rainier III, who was the Prince of Monaco for nearly 56 years, died in 2005, his son Albert II assumed the reign. He and his two sisters, Caroline and Stéphanie, are the children of Princess Grace. She was the United States actress Grace Kelly. Princess Grace was killed in a car accident in 1982.
Prince’s Palace of Monaco B.P. 518 MC 98015 Monaco
You know when you reach the Dam. The square is huge measuring 650 by 350 feet. At one end is the National Monument. The 72 foot concrete pillar commemorates soldiers who died during WWII. At the other end is Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam. The Dutch Baroque building by architect Jacob van Campen opened in 1655 as the Amsterdam Town Hall. On top of the pediment filled with bas-reliefs is a 20 foot statue of Atlas carrying the world. After Louis Bonaparte (brother of Napoléon) became king of Holland in 1806, he converted this marvelous structure into his palace. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is now used by the monarch for state functions and receptions. Guided tours are available.
Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam, Dam, 1001 AM Amsterdam, Netherlands
Learning the historical context of the first occupants of Paleis Het Loo enhances your visit. The summer palace was commissioned by William III, commonly called William of Orange. He became the Prince of Orange in 1650 a week before his birth when his father, William II, died of smallpox. In 1677, while William was stadtholder (steward) of Holland, he married the 15 year old daughter of future King James II of England. In 1688, the pair overthrew her father in the Glorious Revolution. The victor then became William III, the king of England, Scotland and Ireland while she simultaneously became Queen Mary II. The couple’s shared reign over Britain is commonly called the William and Mary Period. Their joint taste for furnishings by Dutch artisans with French accents led to the William and Mary style of furniture from 1689 until the death of William III in 1702. You will see many examples of this furniture while touring about 40 rooms of their former royal palace.
Koninklijk Park 1, 7315 JA Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Since 1849, the Norwegian Royal Palace has been the residence of the country’s king, queen and royal family. Det Kongelige Slott is also where most of the monarch’s work is conducted and the venue for receiving guests. Guided tours of about a dozen of the 173 rooms are available during the summer. The Royal Palace is protected 24/7 by sentries who are part of the King’s Guard.
Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway
A stained-glass ceiling inside of the Archbishop’s Palace floods this marble staircase with colors. The headquarters for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima and the residence for the cardinal was built in 1924 based on the design of architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski. The beautiful neo-colonial structure is located on Plaza Mayor adjacent to the Lima Cathedral.
Jirón Junín & Jirón Carabaya, Cercado de Lima 15001, Peru
Stand in Plaza Mayor in Lima and you are at the 1535 birthplace of this capital city. On each corner is a reflection of Peruvian history including a cathedral and four palaces. One of them is the Government Palace. Palacio de Gobierno houses the executive branch and the president’s residence. Dragoon Guards protect this French Baroque building inside and outside the wrought iron fence. The changing of the guard ceremony, accompanied by a band, occurs daily at noon.
Jirón Junín & Jirón Carabaya, Cercado de Lima 15001, Peru
Follow these tourists through the front gate of the Pena National Palace. Built upon the ruins of a Hieronymites monastery that was destroyed during a 1755 earthquake, this summer palace for Portuguese royalty was started in 1840 by King Ferdinand II and completed the year he died in 1885.
Park and National Palace of Pena Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal
Your excitement mounts as you begin your walking tour of the Moscow Kremlin – which means fortress inside a city. The citadel was commissioned by Ivan III and built on Borovitsky Hill in the late 15th century on top of the former Grad of Moscow. The 68.5 acre Kremlin complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The finest of the Moscow Kremlin’ five palaces is appropriately named the Grand Kremlin Palace. This magnificent structure replaced the estate of the Grand Princes. It was designed by managing architect Konstantin Thon and finished in 1849. Within its 410 feet length are five reception halls, nine churches, more than 700 rooms and 269,000 square feet of opulence. Once the home of tsars (Russian leaders before 1917), the Grand Kremlin Palace is now the official residence of the Russian Federation President. Private tours of select sections are available.
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow Kremlin, Moskva, 103073, Russia
The Winter Palace was the heartbeat of the Russian Empire from 1732 until it fell under Bolshevik control on October 26, 1917. This was the official residence for Russian emperors and empresses from Anna Ioannovna to Nicholas II, although many of them favored other palaces around Saint Petersburg. The original architect of this Elizabethan Baroque complex was Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The green and white façade facing Palace Square measures 750 feet. The palace contains about 1,500 rooms. Many of them are now part of the State Hermitage Museum.
Palace Embankment, 32, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 190000
Among the land acquired by the Russians after their victory over the Swedes in 1709 was the Sarishoff estate (Sarskaya Myza). In 1710, Peter the Great gifted the property to his fiancée, Catherine Alexeyevna. Her name had been Marta Skavronskaya before converting to the Russian Orthodox religion five years before. As her summer residence was being built, the town of Tsarskoe Selo emerged to house servants and builders. After the death of Peter I in 1727, she became Catherine I, Empress of All Russia, for two years. During her reign, the palace that bore her name was relatively modest. But by the mid-18th century, Catherine Palace evolved into an extravagant imperial residence. Its lavish Russian Baroque design rivaled the most beautiful European palaces. When Catherine the Great died in 1796 and her son became Russian Emperor Paul I, he abandoned the palace. Although other Russian rulers of the Romanov dynasty occasionally used the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace until 1917, it never regained the glory of the 18th century. Catherine Palace is located in the municipal town of Pushkin, a suburb of Saint Petersburg about 15 miles from city center.
Garden St, 7, Pushkin, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 196601
Peter the Great’s summer estate house, Monplaisir, had not been finished before he commissioned a more elaborate palace initially called Hilltop Chambers. Construction was suspended in 1725 when the emperor died at the age of 52. 16 years later his daughter, Elizabeth Petrovna, became empress. She commissioned Bartolomeo Rastrelli to create an extravagant expansion. When work was finished in 1755, the 984 foot Grand Peterhof Palace with its gilded domes on both ends was worthy of its moniker. Further enhancements were made by Catherine II and Nicholas I. During World War II, the Germans occupied Peterhof Palace beginning in 1941. When the soldiers left in 1944, the imperial property was in ruins. In disdain for their enemy, it was given the Russian name of Petrodvorets until the 1990s. Fortunately, Peterhof Palace has been restored to its former glory. In the foreground is Oak Fountain. This round basin was added to the Upper Garden in 1738.
Razvodnaya Ulitsa, 2, Petergof, Sankt-Peterburg, 198516, Russia
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch when in Scotland, is an architectural time capsule. On the far left are the ruins of the Augustinian Abbey commissioned by King David I in 1128. Next to it is the dominant north-west tower. King James V ordered its construction in 1528 and William Aytoun finished this first phase in 1532. Inside the James’ Tower was the royal apartment of Mary, Queen of Scots. After being partially destroyed in 1544, the palace was extensively renovated and expanded beginning in 1672. Above the main entrance from the outer courtyard is a relief of the Royal Arms of Scotland, a clock manufactured in 1680 and a cupola shaped as a crown.
Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, UK
Grand Royal Palace is a complex of three historic buildings on Plaça del Rei. They were once home to Aragon kings. The oldest section is St. Agatha Chapel constructed at the start of the 14th century. Saló del Tinell was commissioned by Peter IV of Aragon during his reign from 1336 until 1387. Finally, Charles V – who was both King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor during the mid-16th century – ordered the building of Palau del Lloctinent in 1549. These structures are part of the Barcelona City History Museum.
Plaça del Rei, 7, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
This site has a long history of being a fortress and palace for Romans, Visigoths and Muslims. Most of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos we see today was rebuilt by King Alfonso XI of Castile starting in 1327. Although he was Catholic, his palace was designed using a Mudéjar style favored by the Muslims of Al-Andalus. Historical events here included a civil war fought by Henry IV of Castile against his half-brother, residency of monarchs including Isabella I and Ferdinand II, the financing for the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, the center for the Spanish Inquisition for three centuries, a military garrison run by Napoleon’s army in 1810, and a jail before being opened to the public. Inside are two lovely courtyards, displays of Roman and Moorish artifacts plus a royal bath. These people are walking at the base of the Tribute Tower. It is also called the Homage Tower because it was the venue for knights to swear their allegiance.
Plaza Campo Santo de los Mártires, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
The north end of the Court of the Myrtles has a similar design yet a single level. This is the entry into the courtyard from Comares Palace. In the background is Comares Tower, built in the first half of the 14th century. The 148 foot height of Torre de Comares qualifies it as the tallest on Sabikah Hill. In addition to serving as a watch tower, it once housed the sultans’ offices and winter quarters. Comares Tower is more noteworthy for two historic events (some claim legends) that occurred within its walls. One was the decision by the council and Muhammad XII (Boabdil) to capitulate to the Catholic Monarchs, thus ending the Nasrid dynasty. The second was in April of 1492 when Ferdinand and Isabel agreed to sponsor the first voyage of Christopher Columbus.
Patio de los Arrayanes, Calle Real de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada, Spain
The first magnificent edifice you will encounter at Alhambra is the Palace of Charles V. It measures 207 feet long and is constructed from Sierra Elvira stone. Here is a bit of history. Charles I became the first king of Spain in 1516 after the death of his grandfather, King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Three years later, he also became Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. By the end of his four-decade reign, he ruled over 2.5 million square miles. It was called “the empire on which the sun never sets.” In 1526, he hired architect Pedro Machuca to design a palace so grand as to rival those from Roman antiquity. The project was finally abandoned unfinished in 1637. No Spanish monarch ever stayed in Palacio de Carlos V. You will return here shortly. For now, turn right heading east along the Royal Road (Calle Real de la Alhambra).
Palacio de Carlos V, Calle Real de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada, Spain
While the King of Spain from 1700 – 1724, Felipe V (Philip V) commissioned architect Fillippo Juvarra to build a royal residence after the Alcázar on this site was destroyed by fire in 1734. In 1764, King Charles III was the first monarch to live in the Palacio Real de Madrid. In 1931, Alfanso XIII was the last king at the Royal Palace before fleeing the country. Since then, the Baroque palace has been reserved for state functions and a daily flow of tourists. Only a portion of the 1.4 million square feet and over 3,400 rooms – Europe’s largest palace – is available to tour.
Plaza de la Armería, 2, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Patio de las Doncellas is a superb example of an Islamic inner-courtyard centered with a reflection pool and fountain plus encircled with arcades called a peristyle. The exquisite first level was built in the 14th century. Most people assume the Muslims originated this type of multifoil, horseshoe arch. Actually, the Syrians were the first to use it followed by the Visigoths. The concept was adapted by the Moors (711 – 1248) and then extended by the Christians during the 12th to 17th centuries in the Mudéjar style. The upper level – created with an Italian Renaissance design – was added during the first half of the 16th century by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. The Courtyard of the Maidens is named after the Muslim leaders demands to be gifted 100 maidens annually.
Calle Dean Miranda, 1A, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
This fabulous Baroque structure began in the late 17th century as the University of Navigators. During the mid-19th century, it became the palace of Antoine d’Orléans, the Duke of Montpensier. From 1901 until 1989, the Archdiocese of Seville used the property as a seminary. After an extensive renovation, the Palace of San Telmo became the residence for the president of Andalusia. The Presidency is one of three political components comprising the Junta de Andalucía, the government of this autonomous community. The other two branches are the Parliament of Andalusia and the Governing Council.
Av. Roma, s/n, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
The Romans were the first to build a citadel on Toledo’s highest hill during the 3rd century. It was modified by Alfonso VI of León and Castile at the end of the 11th century and again by Alfonso X of Castile during the 13th century. In 1545, while Charles I ruled the Spanish Empire and was also Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, he commissioned architect Alonso de Covarrubias to convert the Alcázar into a residence. All of these modifications explain why the Alcázar bears so many architectural styles. The former fortress now serves as the National Army Museum and the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Library.
Calle de la Union, 45001 Toledo, Spain
After a devastating fire destroyed the Swedish castle in 1692, the replacement Stockholm Palace was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. Construction began on top of the original foundation five years later. The building was interrupted in 1709 by the Great Northern War, resumed in 1727 and finally completed in 1771. This massive and austere complex for the Swedish royal ramily contains 1,430 rooms.
107 70 Stockholm, Sweden
Engraved over the three-arched entrance of the Rumine Palace are the words “Vniversite Mussees Biblioeqve” which meant the “university museum and library” when it was completed in 1902. Today it contains five museums and is also the cantonal library. It was the gift of Gabriel de Rumine who was the son of a wealthy Russian prince. He was only 30 when he died in Lausanne.
6, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
The Dusit Maha Prasat was built at the Grand Palace in 1790 by Budda Yodfa Chulaloke five years after he became the first monarch of the House of Chakri of Siam. The intricate layers of the gilded spire represent the seven layers of heaven, a stupa and on top is a chedi in the shape of a lotus bud. The Phra Thinang Dusit Maha Prasat is used for the lying-in-state of the royal family which lasts for 100 days.
Na Phra Lan Rd, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
As you enter the Temple of the Emerald Buddha Court of the Grand Palace, you come face-to-face with these two mythical giants called yakshas. Their origin dates back to the 14th century. They are commonly seen guarding the gate of Buddhist temples in Thailand.
Na Phra Lan Rd, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
The world’s most famous address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Construction of the White House started in 1792. In November of 1800, John Adams, the 2nd US President, became the first resident. When Thomas Jefferson moved in the following year, he described it as “Big enough for two emperors, one pope and the grand lama in the bargain.” It was burnt down by the British in 1814. Sections of the historical structure have been expanded, renovated or refurbished during almost every administration. The West Wing contains the Oval Office plus the Cabinet, Situation, Press Briefing and Roosevelt rooms.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500