REVERBDATA

Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel’s geometry is extremely complex, and it can be divided into five main areas. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the antechapel, a rectangular space measuring 15.5m x 9.1m. This space leads to the sacristy on the east side and the reliquary on the west side. The antechapel is connected to the nave of the Royal Chapel, which has richly decorated walls rising to a height of 11.6m, and is topped by a dome whose highest point stands 30.6m above the floor. On the east side stands the High Altar, framed by a carved marble structure. The two remaining spaces, corresponding to the choirs, are located at a higher level and are connected to the chapel via balconies. The first of these is the Plain Chant Choir, situated behind the altar at a height of 10.0m with a rectangular floor plan measuring 11.5m x 5.4m. The second is the Organ Choir, situated on the side opposite the altar at a height of 6.2m. It is also worth noting that the Royal Chapel has windows along its entire perimeter leading to private rooms.

The estimated volume of the Royal Chapel is 7386.5 m³, not including the spaces occupied by the rooms behind the windows. The predominant materials in this space are plaster, which forms most of the walls and ceilings; marble, from which the floor, columns and altars were constructed; and wood, which makes up much of the furnishings and floors of the two choirs. Notably, despite being made of marble, the floor of the nave and the altar is covered by a 18th-century carpet produced at the Royal Tapestry Factory.

Main materials: mixed masonry, painted plaster, marble, wood, glass, large carpet (of the Royal Tapestry Factory).

Measurement points and source location

The Acoustic Heritage of the Royal Palace of Madrid was acquired and registered by: UPM – Polytechnic University of Madrid.

The sound source was placed in 3 positions within the Royal Chapel: near the High Altar (S1), near the entrance to the antechapel (S2) and in the Plain Chant Choir (S3). Acoustic acquisitions and recordings were carried out in 4 locations: three situated on the ground floor of the Royal Chapel (Pos1, Pos2, Pos3) and one situated on the Organ Choir (Pos4).