Magical Madrid – The Highlights of Spain’s Capital City

Stylish and sophisticated, sensuous and hedonistic, cultural and cosmopolitan; Spain’s capital city achieves all of these characteristics with laid-back ease. The third largest city in Europe and often considered the most Spanish of Spanish cities, Madrid dances to a twenty-four hour rhythm and the pulse is irresistibly infectious.

If Madrid can be considered to have a beating heart from which all city life radiates, then this must be the Puerta del Sol: the ‘Gate of the Sun’. The centre point of this sweeping crescent-shaped plaza is ‘Kilometre Zero’ – the point from which each of Madrid’s six national roads officially originates. The Puerta del Sol contains some of Madrid’s iconic landmarks. To the south, the House of the Post Office is in fact the office of the President of Madrid, the head of regional government. Nearby stands a monument to King Charles the Third of Spain: a gesture of thanks for improvements to the city made in accordance with his orders.

Amidst the architectural splendour of the historic buildings, the area surrounding the Puerta del Sol is abuzz with life. Popular with tourists and locals alike there are plenty of options for eating, drinking and accommodation nearby along with traditional shops selling everything from Spanish delicacies to antiques. Close by to the northeast lies another famous plaza, the Plaza Mayor. Featuring three-story arcaded buildings on three sides, the Plaza Mayor’s buildings – originally of wooden construction – have burnt to the ground three times during its history. Originally the site of a market in medieval times, the plaza has subsequently been used as the site of bullfights, public executions, festivals and royal investitures. Today, the Plaza Mayor is the perfect place to eat tapas al fresco amidst the grand buildings and simply watch the world go by.

Although awe-inspiring architecture and historic buildings such as the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and the Catedral de la Almudena are abundant throughout Madrid there are many other ways explore the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. Art lovers will feast upon Madrid’s outstanding choice of galleries; there are few better collections than that housed within the Museo del Prado where original masterpieces by El Greco, Bosch, Titian, Tintoretto, Raphael and Goya vie for your attention. Similarly, the Queen Sofia Arts Center is the place to view works by Picasso, Dali and a host of contemporary and modern Spanish artists. These are but two of a host of excellent museums and galleries that could fill an entire visit to Madrid on their own.

For a well-earned breather from Madrid’s vibrancy and bustle the Parque del Retiro is an oasis of landscaped gardens, walking trails, ornamental sculptures and fountains. An exquisite glass pavilion modelled upon London’s original Crystal Palace is free to enter and regularly hosts shows and exhibitions. On a warm summer’s day, the Parque del Retiro is the ideal place for a snooze in the shade of a tree or a gently rowing around the boating lake whilst in the autumn the diverse colours of the changing leaves and foliage are beautiful to behold.

In keeping with most major cities, Madrid’s wealth of eclectic shopping opportunities doesn’t disappoint. Gran Via is the destination for shopaholics: more than a century old and constantly busy, this vast avenue is a non-stop onslaught of flashy department stores, cafes, bars, theatres and cinemas and simply pulsates with atmosphere. Had you the time to stop and look at them, you’d notice that here too the architecture of Gran Via’s shops and arcades is nothing less than breathtaking. An altogether more interactive and hands-on experience is to be had by joining the scrum at El Rastro; Europe’s largest flea market. Filling a downhill maze of streets between Plaza Mayor and Puerta de Toledo every Sunday, some 3,500 stalls sell every commodity imaginable, so browsing alone could take up a considerable part of your day. Happily there are regular vendors of Spanish beer and tapas to keep you going as you hunt for the best bargains.

The onset of evening sees no let-up in Madrid’s relentless vibrancy. Options for an excellent dinner are plentiful with many restaurants serving fine traditional Spanish, Basque and Mediterranean cuisine. Of note among these is the restaurant Botin – dating from 1725 it is officially the world’s oldest restaurant and offers suckling pig and roast baby lamb amongst its specialities. If you like a little entertainment with your evening meal the Corral de la Morería is renowned for its live flamenco shows. Post dinner, a night’s entertainment in Madrid can last as long as you can hold out for; bars, pubs and clubs (discotecas) remain open through the night and if you have real party stamina there are ‘after-hours’ discotecas that open from 6am and close at lunchtime.

Whatever you’re looking for in your ideal destination, Madrid will provide amply. This is a city of culture and hedonism, history and modernity. Live music, fabulous artworks, sumptuous cuisine, architectural grandeur and a thousand fabulous memories and experiences await you in this friendly and most magical Spanish city.

 

Filed under: Europe & UK • Madrid • Spain

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