palaces Archives

Las Dueñas Palace, Seville: practical guide for first-time visitors

Las Dueñas Palace is a Gothic-Mudéjar and Renaissance mansion in central Seville, home to the House of Alba since 1612. This guide was updated in July 2026. The palace's gardens, 6,000 square metres holding over 7,000 plants, now have a new interactive digital botanical atlas,…

Palazzo Conte Federico, Palermo: practical guide for first-time visitors

Palazzo Conte Federico is one of Palermo's oldest buildings, still home to the Federico family, who personally lead every tour through their own house. This guide was updated in July 2026. You should book in advance through Viator to secure your spot on this small-group…

Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Germany.

Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin: practical guide for first-time visitors

Charlottenburg Palace is Berlin's largest surviving royal palace, built from 1695 for Queen Sophia Charlotte and expanded over seven generations of Hohenzollern rule. This guide was updated in June 2026. Summer closures can happen with little notice during heatwave warnings. You can book through GetYourGuide…

Colonna Palace, Rome: practical guide for first-time visitors

The Palazzo Colonna at Piazza SS. Apostoli 66 is the oldest continuously inhabited private palace in Rome, Italy. It is still home to the Colonna family, and contains one of the most sumptuously decorated Baroque galleries in the world. This guide was updated in June…

Visiting the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence: practical guide for first-time visitors

The Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria has been the seat of Florentine civic power since 1299 and today operates as both Florence's working town hall and one of its most visited museums. This guide was updated in June 2026. Two significant updates for 2026:…

Visiting the Doge’s Palace, Venice: practical guide for first-time visitors

The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) on Piazzetta San Marco is the masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture and the seat of power of the Venetian Republic for nearly a thousand years. This guide was updated in June 2026. From 1 January 2026, the standard ticket price…

Visiting the Pitti Palace, Florence: practical guide for first-time visitors

Palazzo Pitti on the south side of the Arno in Florence is the largest palatial complex in Tuscany, Italy — a building that housed three dynasties across four centuries and today holds five museums and a chapel under one roof. This guide was updated in…

Visiting the Norman Palace, Palermo: practical guide for first-time visitors

The Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) is Europe's oldest continually inhabited royal palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of Palermo, and home to the breathtaking Palatine Chapel — the finest surviving example of Arab-Norman-Byzantine art in existence. This guide was updated in…

Visiting Buckingham Palace State Rooms, London: practical guide for first-time visitors

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and one of the few remaining working royal palaces in the world. The most important fact for planning: the State Rooms are only open to the public for ten weeks each summer — from…

The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh: practical guide for first-time visitors

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of the British Sovereign, located at the foot of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and open to the public when the King is not in residence. This guide covers opening hours, admission prices, transport, accessibility, and…