Hall of Realms, Museum building in Buen Retiro district, Madrid, Spain.
The Salón de Reinos is a monumental 17th-century hall within the Museo del Prado campus in Madrid. Its high vaulted ceilings and expansive wall surfaces were originally designed to display large-scale paintings and host royal ceremonies, which the structure continues to showcase today.
The building was erected between 1630 and 1635 as part of the Palacio del Buen Retiro and served Philip IV as a ceremonial hall for court events. After the palace fell into decline in the 19th century, this wing survived and was later integrated into the museum.
The hall takes its name from the coats of arms of 24 kingdoms united under Philip IV that once decorated its walls. Visitors today can trace how the building represented the territorial expanse of the Spanish monarchy in the 17th century and displayed its dynastic power.
The hall is accessible through the Museo del Prado entrances and allows visitors to view the artworks without special advance booking. The premises are open during regular museum hours and provide barrier-free access for all guests.
Of the former palatial structures of the Palacio del Buen Retiro, only this hall and the Casón del Buen Retiro survived. The remaining sections vanished in the 19th century, while these buildings were preserved through repurposing as museum spaces.
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