Madrid Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions
Madrid may be the capital of Spain but for sightseeing it has less to offer
than some of the country's other cities. Yet it is a fascinating city to stroll
around with magnificent architecture, a few "must see" attractions and a
selection of art galleries that makes it the envy of of other European cultural
centres.
Puerta del Sol
It’s more than likely that you'll be staying in the vicinity of Puerta
del Sol when you stay in Madrid as it is not only the geographical centre of the
capital but also the centre of Spain. Look out for the marker on the
pavement in front of the Ayuntamiento (Council) building as all road distances
in Spain are measured from this spot (Kilometre Zero).
"Puerta" means gate and it got this name historically because in the
15th century it was the city's main, easternmost gate when under the Habsburg
Kings it was surrounded by churches and monasteries. It was rebuilt in its
present form in 1854-62. Today it is the hub of the city's transport system and
is Madrid’s most popular meeting point.
Plaza Mayor
More impressive on a monumental level is the great Plaza Mayor just a two
minute walk from Puerta del Sol. Initially it served as a small market
square when it was first built in the 15th century. It was completely
rebuilt after Phillip II made Madrid the capital of Spain and became the city's
focal point as bullfights, carnivals and all the great festivals and ceremonies
of imperial Madrid were held there. Large sections were rebuilt after
a fire in 1790.
Today you'll find a selection of pricey bars and restaurants on the outskirts
of the square along with novelty shops selling hats and coins. There are
artists working outside the tourist office and tourists from all over the globe
hanging around this grand plaza.
Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
The Spanish Royal Family don't reside at this 3,000-room palace so apart
from on the date of an official state function it is open to visitors. A
very interesting
private tour of the Royal Palace and Prado Museum is available with
licensed English speaking tour guide. Other Madrid
city tours which include the Royal Palace are also available.
Parque del Retiro
The Retiro park is an important part of the life of the people of Madrid.
Lying within walking distance of the main attractions of the city centre it is a
peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. On Sunday mornings in
particular you'll see Madrileños enjoying their leisure time with some wandering
simply around before their 'aperitivo' (pre-lunchtime drink), others jogging,
some reading the paper on benches or in a café and others rowing around the lake
in rented boats.
El Teleférico de Madrid
This is a cable car that runs from Rosales in the west of the city to a
restaurant in the Casa de Campo park. The 10 minute ride gives great views
of Madrid's skyline.
The Main Art Galleries in Madrid
Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)
The Prado is one of the world’s
greatest galleries and is Madrid's premier tourist attraction with a higher concentration of masterpieces than
any other museum in the world. There are many works by Goya, El Greco and
Velázquez, the great Spanish painters as well as celebrated works by Bosch, Botticelli
and Rubens amongst others.
Such is the wealth of art here that it is
only possible to display about 1,500 works of its 9,000-piece
collection at any one time. Check the weekly 'Guia de Ocio' magazine to
check whether any special exhibitions are on display during your visit.
Highly recommended is the
private tour of the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace accompanied by
a licensed, English speaking tour guide. Other Madrid city
tours which include the Prado are also available.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
This collection has been installed in chronological
order to allow the visitor to take a historical walking tour of European
Painting from the 13th Century to modern times.
The most outstanding works are
from the Italian and German Renaissance, the 17th Century Dutch School, 19th
Century North American Painting, Impressionism, Expressionism and Cubism.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
The Reina Sofia acquired
Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ in 1992 which is the most visited
individual work of art in Madrid and indeed in Spain. The rest of the permanent
collection contains works by virtually every noted Spanish artist of this
century, together with many others by non-Spanish artists.
Museo Sorolla
A much lesser known museum but a "must see" for the art enthusiast in Madrid
is this elegant former home
of the Valencian artist Joaquín Sorolla who lived and worked here. Today the
mansion guards the works of Spain’s foremost Impressionist painter.
Museo de América
This is the finest collection of pre-Columbian art and
artefacts in Europe. It contains articles that were brought back at the time of the Spanish Conquest
as well as others
that have been donated by various Latin American countries. Highlights include
Inca stone sculptures and funeral offerings from Peru, gold ornaments and finely
modelled figurines from Colombia, Aztec masks and a Mayan illustrated
manuscript from Mexico telling the story of the arrival of the Spaniards.
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