James Lucas
James Lucas

@JamesLucasIT

21 Tweets 4 reads Feb 11, 2025
The most beautiful palaces on Earth 🧵
1. The snow on the Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy, reveals its magnificent violin design. x.com
2. Mysore Palace, India
This royal residence, also referred to as Amba Vilas Palace, used to be the official home of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore.
Known as the "City of Palaces," Mysore is famous for its seven stunning royal palaces. x.com
3. Palace of Venaria, Italy
This former royal hunting lodge, named from Latin Venatio Regia ("Royal Hunt"), was a residence for the House of Savoy.
It features monumental architecture and Baroque interiors, such as the spectacular Galleria Grande seen in the picture. x.com
4. Palace of Versailles
Commissioned by King Louis XIV, this symbol of French royalty is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
With vast gardens, ornate rooms, and the iconic Hall of Mirrors, it embodies centuries of grandeur.
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5. Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
Once the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, it is located in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna.
Schöbrunn means "beautiful spring". x.com
6. Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India
Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, this unique "palace of winds" is made of red and pink sandstone.
Located on the edge of Jaipur's City Palace, it features numerous small windows and balconies resembling a honeycomb. x.com
7. Neuschwanstein Castle
Words simply can't do justice to the enchanting beauty of the palace that inspired Disney's Cinderella Castle.
Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, it was a tribute to the composer Richard Wagner.
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8. Potala Palace, Tibet
Constructed as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, this UNESCO World Heritage site soars 119 meters above the valley.
Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet". x.com
9. Buckingham Palace
The official residence of the British monarch and arguably the most famous palace in the world, Buckingham Palace boasts 775 rooms and is home to the largest private garden in London. x.com
10. The Royal Palace of Naples
This former Bourbon residence features the majestic Staircase of Honor, designed by Francesco Picchiatti and refined by Gaetano Genovese.
After the Italian unification (1861) it passed into the hands of the Savoy.
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11. The Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
Also known as "Palacio Nacional", it serves as the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Madrid, though it is primarily used for state functions today.
It is the largest royal palace in Europe. x.com
12. Arguably the most famous palace in all of Chinese history, The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of 24 Ming and Qing emperors from 1420 to 1924.
(I dive deeper into the world’s largest preserved royal palace complex in the article at the end of this thread.) x.com
13. The Alhambra
One of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture, this fortress complex in Granada, Spain, is one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world.
It also features notable examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture. x.com
14. Topkapi Palace, Turkey
From the 1460s to 1856, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and the primary residence of its sultans.
Following the empire's dissolution in 1923, a government decree on April 3, 1924, converted Topkapi into a museum. x.com
15. Peterhof Palace
Also known as the "Russian Versailles," it was commissioned by Peter the Great as a direct response to the grandeur of the French palace built by King Louis XIV. x.com
16. Château de Chambord
The largest château in the Loire Valley was built as a hunting lodge for Francis I.
Its design is attributed to Domenico da Cortona, with possible influence from Leonardo da Vinci.
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17. Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, Rome
Constructed on the 16th-century residence of Cardinal Fazio Santoro, the palace reflects a rich blend of art and history, shaped by the alliance of prominent Italian families like the Aldobrandini, Pamphilj, and Doria.
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18. Pena Palace, Portugal
This colorful Romantic palace is perched atop a hill in the Sintra Mountains, above the town of Sintra.
On a clear day, it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. x.com
19. Colonna Palace, Italy
Along with the collections of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavicini-Rospigliosi families, this palace houses one of the largest private art collections in the Eternal City.
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20. Himeji Castle, Japan
Often referred to as the "White Heron Castle" because of its graceful shape that resembles a bird in flight, it’s a magnificent example of Japanese feudal architecture. x.com
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this thread, please retweet the first post!
For an in-depth look, my latest article dives into the secret meaning behind the violin-shaped design of the Royal Palace of Caserta and its rich history 👇
james-lucas.com

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