The **Zarzuela Palace** serves as the primary residence of the monarch of Spain, King **Felipe VI**. Established during the 17th century by **King Philip IV**, this architectural masterpiece boasts a captivating history. Interestingly, it was the birthplace of the esteemed Spanish musical genre, *zarzuela*.
King **Juan Carlos I** and his consort, **Queen Sofia**, took up permanent residence at the palace in May 1962. In the aftermath of the death of the dictator **Francisco Franco**, who passed away in November 1975, the young king chose to abstain from inhabiting the **Royal Palace of El Pardo**. Instead, the **Palacio de la Moncloa** was assigned to the President of the **Spanish Government**. The **Royal Palace of Madrid** remains a venue reserved for state functions.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía resided at the Zarzuela Palace until August 2020, when King Juan Carlos relocated abroad.
The Zarzuela Palace still stands as a remarkable residence, steeped in the intriguing history of Spain.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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