Travel with Amateur Traveler · Saturday, August 29, 2026
Felicity Hughes notes that the architecture of Madrid's Royal Palace, visible from Calle del Arenal leading to Plaza de Oriente, shares similarities with El Escorial. She mentions the influence of Juan de Herrera and Philip V in bringing a Flemish style with northern European towers to the city's design.
“So you go down this street, Calle del Arenal. That leads you to Plaza de Oriente, which is a beautiful square, and it's in front of the Royal Palace.”
“And the architecture is really similar to El Escorial.”
“It has these pointed roofs that we call Arenal because there are three architects called Juan involved in the Plaza Mayor. Juan de Herrera, who was the architect who worked on El Escorial.”
“And Philip the Fifth, being sort of ruler also of Austria, liked this Flemish style towers, northern European style.”