Felipe II's designation of Madrid as imperial capital changed the destiny of the city. There are a few outstanding remains from this era, the most famous of which are the elegant colonnaded Plaza Mayor and the delightful Plaza de la Villa.

The original royal Alcázar was burned down in 1734, replaced by the far more opulent Palacio Real which was built on the orders of Felipe V and which remains one of the city's prime tourist attractions.

Madrid's Imperial era was also a time when wealth from the America's continued to flow into the city, as evidenced by all the pre-Columbian cultural treasures now in the Museo de América.

Madrid's Heyday

In many ways the city reached its heyday under Carlos III (1759-88), known as the "Rey-Alcalde" (King-Mayor) who did much to clean up the medieval squalor of the old city. He also determined to create the grand museums and mansions that now line the Paseo del Prado, including the the Prado itself.

There was further re-modelling of the city during the French occupation at the start of the nineteenth century when Napoleon's brother Joseph was installed on the throne.

For an interesting insight into this period head to the flamboyant Baroque building that houses the Museo de Historia.