ATTRACTION
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is the name of the
16th-century square whose center features a
statue of King Felipe III. The square had
undergone several renovations after being
sabotaged by three fires. It served as a market
square until the 19th century and has become one
of Madrid's important landmarks as well as an
ideal promenade.
Puerto del Sol
Dotted with shops, cafes, bars and
restaurants, Puerto del Sol is a lively hangout
place for young people and also a springboard
for visitors who later head off to explore the
Royal Palace, the Prado Museum or the Retiro
Park. It is also a significant gathering place
every December 31st as the Madrileños flock to
the square and try to eat twelve grapes within
the last 12 seconds before the arrival of new
year.
Moorish quarter
Just to the south of Palacio Real is the
Moorish quarter, one of Madrid's oldest
districts. There's a short stretch of city wall
here, built by the early-medieval Muslim rulers
in the 9th century. In summer the area is a
venue for open-air theater and music
performances.
Centro De Arte Reina Sofia
The Reina Sofia Museum is one of Madrid as
well as the nation's famous modern art museums
as there are extensive displays of well-known
pieces by Spain's three great modern maestros
such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan
Miró as well as other less internationally
recognized artists. The museum also provides
research facility, cafe, souvenir shop as well
as restaurant.
Museo del Prado
A massive number of 7,000 works are housed
in this natural history museum-turn-Spanish art
repository. The displayed pieces are invaluable
properties of the royal court. Magnificent
works by the legendary 17th-18th century artists
such as Velazquez, Goya and da Ribera are
displayed on the first floor whereas a sizeable
collection of works by their Flemish and Italian
counterparts like Rubens, Van Dyck, Botticelli
and Titian are featured in other sections.
Definitely a heaven for western art aficionados.
Real Jardin Botanico
Created by King Carlos III and located near
the Prado, this botanical garden houses
countless thousands of botanical species from
all five continents on its precinct. A visit to
the garden can be as entertainingly educational
as well as invigoratingly refreshing.
Palacio Real de El Pardo (Royal Palace)
Highly acclaimed as one of the finest
palaces in Europe, this place had been occupied
by Felipe II who appointed Madrid as the
nation's capital in the 1550s, as well as a
favored choice of residence of General Franco
during his fascist supremacy. There are various
displays of the lavishly decorated interior as
well as adornments done by Goya and
Tiépolo
which make the palace truly worth visiting.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
This historic complex is divided into three
parts: the monastery (with Lucas Jordán's
frescoes), the royal mausoleum, and the palace.
The palace's magnificent rooms are decorated
with paintings by Titian, El Greco, and Claudio
Coello, as well as wonderful 18th-century
furniture. The library contains a fascinating
collection of manuscripts and the Museum of
Painting and Architecture is worth a look.
Felipe II commissioned Juan Bautista de Toledo
and Juan de Herrera to build everything between
1563 and 1584 to commemorate Spanish victory in
the battle of San Quintín (1557).
Parque del Buen Retiro
Parque del Buen Retiro is a great place for
a reflective retreat after an exhausting day of
museums and palaces' exploration. This public
garden offers a fine sight of the lake, the
gargantuan mausoleum of Alfonso XII and the
sphinx-laden fountain. Plenty of activites such
as puppet show, buskers and tarot readers are
also available.
Puente de Toledo
Arguably the most beautiful bridge in the
city, this nine-arched bridge over the River
manzanares support the baroque shrines holding
statues of San Isidro and Santa María de la
Cabeza. The bridge was built under the
commission of Felipe V, and is now close to
traffic so you can enjoy the fascinating sight
from the bridge undisturbed. |