18th-Century Madrid: The Bourbons and the Enlightened Capital

The 18th century was Madrid's century of modernisation. After a 17th century of imperial splendour but urban decline, the Bourbons — and above all Charles III — embarked on transforming Madrid into an Enlightened European capital. The Madrid they designed is still visible in its monumental axes, palaces, and gardens.

The change of dynasty: the Bourbons arrive in Spain

In 1700, Charles II, the last Spanish Habsburg, died without direct descendants. His will left the throne to Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, who reigned as Philip V (1700–1746). The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) was the European conflict over the throne: France and Spain against the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Britain.

The Bourbon victory had profound consequences for Madrid. The Bourbons brought the political and aesthetic culture of Louis XIV's France: administrative centralisation, representational architecture, urban planning on grand axes.

Philip V: the stone palace

Philip V commissioned the current Royal Palace after the 1734 fire destroyed the Habsburg Alcázar. Its construction, completed by Charles III, transformed the western end of Madrid with the largest royal palace in Western Europe.

Ferdinand VI: neutrality and the arts

Ferdinand VI (1746–1759) reigned in a period of peace — Spain did not participate in the European wars of his reign — and was a generous patron of the arts and sciences. He founded the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (1752) and the Academy of History.

Charles III: the best mayor of Madrid

Charles III (1759–1788) is the monarch who most profoundly transformed Madrid. Before arriving, he had reigned in Naples (1735–1759), where he had carried out major urban reforms. He came to Madrid with government experience and a modernisation project.

His works in Madrid are extraordinary:

The Paseo del Prado: Charles III transformed the old carriage promenade into a great Enlightenment boulevard with monumental fountains — the Cibeles, the Neptune, the Alcachofa — designed by Ventura Rodríguez and José de Hermosilla.

The Puerta de Alcalá: The triumphal arch designed by Francesco Sabatini (1778) to commemorate Charles III's entry into Madrid is one of the city's most iconic monuments.

The Royal Botanical Garden: Founded in 1755 by Ferdinand VI and relocated to its current site beside the Prado by Charles III in 1781.

The Prado building: The building designed by Juan de Villanueva to house the Royal Cabinet of Natural Sciences (the future Museo del Prado) was commissioned by Charles III in 1785.

Urban reforms: Charles III paved Madrid's streets, installed public lighting with oil lanterns, built sewers, and ordered the cleaning of the city — earning his nickname as the "best mayor".

Bourbon Madrid and Madrileño identity

The Bourbon 18th century created the great public spaces of Madrid: the Paseo del Prado, the gardens of the Retiro (partially opened to the public), the Puerta de Alcalá. It is the Madrid that Goya painted in his tapestry cartoons: a lively city of majos and majas, popular festivals, and street life.

See also our guide to the Royal Palace of Madrid and the royal palaces near Madrid.

---

References:

• Caro Baroja, Julio — Los majos. Ediciones Istmo, 1989.
• Lopezosa Aparicio, Concepción — El Paseo del Prado de Madrid. Fundación Caja de Madrid, 2005.