"Alcazar in Segovia. Alcazar is the name of many castles and palaces in Spain. Ciudad-Rodrigo, Cordova, Segovia, toledo and Seville have alcazars."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Alcazar

"Alcazar in Segovia. Alcazar is the name of many castles and palaces in Spain. Ciudad-Rodrigo, Cordova,…

The Alhambra which translates "the red fortress" was constructed during the mid 14th century as a palace and fortress by the Moorish rulers in Granada, Spain. It is most famous for its Islamic architecture.

Alhambra

The Alhambra which translates "the red fortress" was constructed during the mid 14th century as a palace…

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain.

The Alhambra

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain.

An ancient palace located in Assyria.

Assyrian Palace

An ancient palace located in Assyria.

"The civic buildings of Venice are many of them fine specimens of the same style; of these, one of the richest is the palace called the Ca d'Oro." —D'Anvers, 1895

Ca d'Oro

"The civic buildings of Venice are many of them fine specimens of the same style; of these, one of the…

A European castle.

Castle

A European castle.

Located about 55 kilometers from Paris, it is one of the largest French royal chateaus.  Pictured is the Porte Doree, its southern entrance. The Chateau Fontainebleau is the largest royal castle in France. The palace was designed by numerous French monarchs, one of them being King Francis I during the 16th century. The palace is designed in an Italian Mannerist style which later became known as the "Fontainebleau style" during the 16th century.

Chateau of Fontainebleau

Located about 55 kilometers from Paris, it is one of the largest French royal chateaus. Pictured is…

"The columns of <em>cipollino</em>, which belonged to the Palace of Domitian." &mdash; Young, 1901

Columns of Domitian

"The columns of cipollino, which belonged to the Palace of Domitian." — Young, 1901

An illustration of the Prussian Army destroying the interior of a palace.

Destroying Palace Interior

An illustration of the Prussian Army destroying the interior of a palace.

The remains of John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore's palace.

Remains of Lord Dunmore's Palace

The remains of John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore's palace.

"One of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, comprising at once a convent, a church, a palace, and a mausoleum. It is situated on the south-eastern versant of the Sierra de Guadarrama, on the borders of New Castile, about 27 miles N.W. of Madrid and Avila." &mdash Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Escorial

"One of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, comprising at once a convent, a church, a palace, and…

"One of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, comprising at once a convent, a church, a palace, and a mausoleum. It is situated on the south-eastern versant of the Sierra de Guadarrama, on the borders of New Castile, about 27 miles N.W. of Madrid and Avila." &mdash Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Escorial

"One of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, comprising at once a convent, a church, a palace, and…

"One of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, comprising at once a convent, a church, a palace, and a mausoleum. It is situated on the south-eastern versant of the Sierra de Guadarrama, on the borders of New Castile, about 27 miles N.W. of Madrid and Avila." &mdash Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Escorial

"One of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, comprising at once a convent, a church, a palace, and…

Guliver inspects the royal palace and kisses the Queen's hand.

Guliver at the Royal Palace

Guliver inspects the royal palace and kisses the Queen's hand.

Hampton Court Palace is a former royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, south west London, England. Along with St. James's Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many built by Henry VIII.Thomas Wolsey, then Archbishop of York and Chief Minister to the King, took over the lease in 1514 and rebuilt the 14th century manor house over the next seven years (1515&ndash;1521) to form the nucleus of the present palace. Wolsey spent lavishly to build the finest palace in England at Hampton Court, which he was later forced to give to Henry as he began to fall from favour.

Hampton Court, 17th Century

Hampton Court Palace is a former royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, south west…

Native Americans negotiating with the English in Kensington Palace.

Kensington Palace

Native Americans negotiating with the English in Kensington Palace.

"Entrance gateway, Palace of Khorsabad." &mdash; The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Khorsabad

"Entrance gateway, Palace of Khorsabad." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

A painting titled Lion-hunt from the North-west Palace at Nimrud.

Lion Hunt

A painting titled Lion-hunt from the North-west Palace at Nimrud.

The palais du Louvre in Paris, on the Right Bank of the Seine is a former royal palace, situated between the Tuileries Gardens and the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. Its origins date back to the medieval period and its present structure has evolved in stages since the sixteenth century.

Plan of Louvre and Tuileries, Paris

The palais du Louvre in Paris, on the Right Bank of the Seine is a former royal palace, situated between…

An illustration of Luxembourg Palace which is located in Paris, France. The Luxembourg Palace houses the famous Luxembourg Garden which displays a large garden and lawn full of statues and large water basins.

Luxembourg Palace

An illustration of Luxembourg Palace which is located in Paris, France. The Luxembourg Palace houses…

The Moorish mosaic circle pattern is made out of stone and glazed terracotta. This design is found in the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain.

Moorish Mosaic Pattern

The Moorish mosaic circle pattern is made out of stone and glazed terracotta. This design is found in…

The National Palace is the seat of the federal executive in Mexico. It is located in Mexico City's main square, the Plaza de la Constitución.

National Palace, Mexico City

The National Palace is the seat of the federal executive in Mexico. It is located in Mexico City's main…

Assyrian Palace at Nineveh

nineveh

Assyrian Palace at Nineveh

Facade of Assyrian Royal Palace.

Palace

Facade of Assyrian Royal Palace.

"All the Assyrian buildings were erected on terraces, to which flights of steps gave access, and it was probable that they were several stories high." &mdash;D'Anvers, 1895

Assyrian palace

"All the Assyrian buildings were erected on terraces, to which flights of steps gave access, and it…

The Petit Palais (Small Palace) is a museum in Paris, France. It was built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900 and now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts.

Petit Palais

The Petit Palais (Small Palace) is a museum in Paris, France. It was built for the Universal Exhibition…

The inner courtyard of the Persian Palace.

Persian Palace

The inner courtyard of the Persian Palace.

This Flying Grotesque pilaster is a squatting winged female without arms. It is found in a palace in Siena, Italy during the Italian Renaissance.

Flying Grotesque Pilaster

This Flying Grotesque pilaster is a squatting winged female without arms. It is found in a palace in…

A princess atop her palace waves to her prince down below.

Princess Waving

A princess atop her palace waves to her prince down below.

"Riccardi Palace, Florence." &mdash; The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Riccardi Palace

"Riccardi Palace, Florence." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain, located in Madrid. King Juan Carlos and the royal family do not actually reside in this palace, instead choosing the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. However, the Palacio Real de Madrid is still used for state occasions. The palace is owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency. The palace also has the distinction of being the largest royal palace in Western Europe in size, with over a combined area of over 135,000 m<sup>2</sup> and more than 2,800 rooms.

Royal Palace, Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain, located in Madrid. King Juan…

An illustration of the restoration of a court in Sargon's palace at Khorsabad.

Sargon's Palace at Khorsabad

An illustration of the restoration of a court in Sargon's palace at Khorsabad.

The Savoy Palace was considered the grandest nobleman's residence of medieval London, until it was destroyed in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. It fronted Strand, on the site of the present Savoy Theatre and the Savoy Hotel that memorialise its name. In its area the rule of law was different from the rest of London.

Part of the Savoy Palace

The Savoy Palace was considered the grandest nobleman's residence of medieval London, until it was destroyed…

The Moorish square panel is a 14th century design found in Alhambra a palace in Southern Spain.

Moorish Square Panel

The Moorish square panel is a 14th century design found in Alhambra a palace in Southern Spain.

This image depicts a man and a donkey walking under The Tower of Justice, the original entrance gate to the Alhambra. The Alhambra is a fortress in Granada, Spain that was built in 1348 by Yusuf I.

The Tower of Justice

This image depicts a man and a donkey walking under The Tower of Justice, the original entrance gate…

An opulent apartment in Pompeii.

Triclinium

An opulent apartment in Pompeii.

An illustration of the original Trocadero Palace. For the 1878 World's Fair, the Palais du Trocadéro was built here (where meetings of international organizations could be held during the fair). The palace's form was that of a large concert hall with two wings and two towers; its style was a mixture of exotic and historical references, generally called "Moorish" but with some Byzantine elements. The architect was Gabriel Davioud. The concert hall contained a large organ built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, the first large organ to be installed in a concert hall in France. It was removed to a hall in Lyon and subsequently destroyed by fire. The building proved unpopular, though the cost expended in its construction delayed its replacement for nearly fifty years.

Trocadero Palace (old)

An illustration of the original Trocadero Palace. For the 1878 World's Fair, the Palais du Trocadéro…

"Palace of Zayi." &mdash;D'Anvers, 1895

Palace of Zayi

"Palace of Zayi." —D'Anvers, 1895