Hallway architecture
Introduction
The hallway of the Real Alcázar of Madrid was an important space in that royal residence.
History
The first certain information about the hallway exists as a consequence of the renovations to the Alcázar commissioned by Charles I in the middle of the century.[1] These reforms involved the extension of the Alcázar towards the east, with the construction of three bays surrounding a new patio formed to the east of the eastern bay of the palace that housed the chapel on its first floor and the sacristy on the ground floor. The hallway was made up of two pieces, a first one further to the south of a quadrangular shape (later called the main hallway in the Gómez de Mora Plan) and a second in parallel, exactly to the north of the first, rectangular in shape (named the large hallway in the aforementioned plan).
In the first quarter of the century, the hallway underwent a significant restructuring within the framework of the restructuring of the south bay as a result of the construction of a new façade by Gómez de Mora. At this time it was expanded to allow better circulation of horse carriages that had the right to access the courtyards of the Alcázar of Madrid. This extension was admired at the time since the large hallway was resized with a larger surface area that allowed the mobility of horse-drawn carriages. In the Gómez de Mora Plan, the hallway is represented in the one corresponding to the ground floor with the numbers 2 (main hallway) and 3 (large hallway).
Description
It was located in the center of the south bay of the Alcázar at the level of the ground floor. Specifically, it is located in the space approximately between the towers of the Homenaje "Torre del Homenaje (Real Alcázar de Madrid)") (west) and the Bastimento (east) on the south side, extending towards the north towards the courtyards of the King "Patio del Rey (Alcázar de Madrid)") (west) and the Queen's (east). In reality, the hallway was made up of a series of spaces:[2].
From the king's field, the main hall was entered through the main door of the Alcázar, located in the center of it. The large hallway opens towards each of the patios through two double openings. Through the large hallway there was access to a staircase that led to the vaults, as the basements of the fortress were known.[2].
References
- [1] ↑ Barbeito Díez, 1992, p. 14.
- [2] ↑ a b Íñiguez Almech, 1952, p. 85.