1 . There are some palaces in Europe that you may be interested to know about.

Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain

It takes the title of the largest European palace by floor area and it is one of the largest palaces in the world. The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in the 18th century by order of Philip V on the site of the old Alcázar fortress, a former Moorish castle. With over 135,000 square metres and 3,418 rooms, it has seeded centuries of Spanish history. It is one of the few official seats of a head of state that is open to the public.

Royal Palace of Brussels, Belgium

It is a historic and the most wonderful building in Brussels, Belgium, next to Brussels Park. The Royal Palace of Brussels is the King’s main workplace, where he works daily with his staff. A tradition has been established since 1965 to open the Royal Palace of Brussels to the public normally from the 21 July until the beginning of September.

Pena Palace, Portugal

It is the most popular attraction in Sintra, Portugal, and the main reason why so many people visit the small mountain town less than one hour’s drive from the country’s capital city, Lisbon. The colorful palace perched upon a hill looks like something out of a fairy tale. Its yellow and bright red appearance makes Pena Palace one of the most picturesque places in Europe. The UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site has a rich history that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.

Palace of Venaria, Italy

It is a former royal living places and gardens located in Venaria Reale, near Turin in the Metropolitan City of Turin of the Piedmont region in northern Italy. It is one of the largest palaces in the world. It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

1. Which palace covers the largest floor area in Europe?

A．Royal Palace of Madrid.	B．Pena Palace.
C．Royal Palace of Brussels.	D．Palace of Venaria.

2. When can tourists visit the Royal Palace of Brussels?

A．In February.

B．In June.

C．In August.

D．In October.

3. What do Pena Palace and Palace of Venaria have in common?

A．They are both in Asia.

B．They are both small palaces.

C．They are both forty minutes’ drive from the capital.

D．They are both listed in the UNESCO World Heritage.