Madrid

El Retiro is a green zone located in the center of Madrid. It has 125 hectares and more than 15,000 trees. Among its gardens is the Jardín de Vivaces, the gardens of Cecilio Rodríguez, the gardens of the architect Herrero Palacios, the Rosaleda (rose garden) and the Parterre Francés and its ahuehuete, the oldest tree in the city with about 400 years old. In this park, declared Cultural Landscape World Heritage by UNESCO in 2021, there are several activities of culture, leisure and sport that attracts hundreds of locals and tourists of all ages and corners of the world. Thus, it is possible to take a boat ride on the famous Estanque Grande or watch the canoeists of the Municipal School of Canoeing training. Other of its most beloved elements are the Palacio de Cristal and the Palacio de Velázquez, currently exhibition halls of the Reina Sofía Museum. Among the sculptures and fountains in El Retiro Park is the monument to Alfonso XII; the Fernando VII reservoir, which includes the Casa del Pescador, the Artificial Mountain and the Casa del Contrabandista; the statue of the Fallen Angel; the water wheel; the fountain of the Galapagos; the Bosque del Recuero, a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack of March 11; the Puppet Theater and the Hermitage of San Pelayo and San Isidoro.The Retiro Park also houses the Eugenio Trias Municipal Public Library, the Casa de Vacas Cultural Center and the Meteorological Observatory.

The Puerta de Alcalá is located in the center of the Plaza de la Independencia, in Madrid, next to the Retiro Park. Regarded as one of the icons of Madrid, the Puerta de Alcalá was inaugurated in 1778 and is one of the five gates that gave access to the city and in which some of the most prominent streets of the city converge such as the streets of Alcalá, Alfonso XII and Serrano. Built by order of Carlos III, the Puerta de Alcalá is a neoclassical granite triumphal arch, the first built in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, the work of designer Francesco Sabatini. Its two facades have different decorations, a more austere one with the four virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude, and the other, the outer facade, which features the royal coat of arms with a very detailed decoration since it was the first thing visitors entering Madrid saw.

The Cibeles Fountain is located in the square of the same name, at the intersection of Paseo del Prado and Calle Alcalá, in Madrid. This fountain represents the Greek goddess who is pulled by a chariot of lions. Designed by the architect Ventura Rodriguez in 1782, although its original function was to supply water to the residents of Madrid, in 1895 it was moved to its current location where it serves as a decorative element and where the celebrations of the famous football team, Real Madrid, and the Spanish national football and basketball team take place. The Cibeles Fountain is surrounded by majestic buildings such as the Cibeles Palace, the Buenavista Palace, the Bank of Spain and the Linares Palace.

The Gran Vía is one of the main avenues in Madrid. It starts at Calle Alcalá and ends at Plaza de España. Built between 1910 and 1931, it marked the construction of the first skyscrapers in Spain and the beginning of modernization. This street was decided to be built as a solution to the congestion in the city center, made up of chaotic alleys, of which twenty-two were eliminated. As an interesting fact, although a more optical layout was still sought, it had to be adapted in order to respect three religious buildings: the Real Oratorio del Caballero de Gracias, the church of San José and the church of San Francisco de Borja, which no longer exists. The result of this new road, made up of three sections, led to the construction of some of the most emblematic buildings in Madrid: the Metropolis, the Telefónica building, the Casino, the Capitol Building and the Callao cinema. In addition, in the Gran Vía of Madrid there are some of the most important international fashion stores, musical theaters and cinemas. A whole street of leisure and commerce.

Plaza del Callao is one of the most iconic squares in Madrid. It is home to the legendary Callao cinemas, operating since 1927, the Carrión Building (1933), the Palacio de la Prensa (1928) and the famous Schweppes illuminated sign. Plaza Callao is located in the neighborhood of Sol, in the center of Madrid, at the end of Gran Vía, Preciados and Calle del Carmen and is an unmissable place in the city where you can stroll, and go shopping or enjoy the culture.

TThe Museo Nacional del Prado is located on the Paseo del Prado in Madrid. This is one of the most important museums in the world. Its extensive collection includes works of great importance by Spanish and European artists among which include Velázquez, El Greco, Goya, Titian, Rubens and Bosch, of which the museum holds has the most extensive and finest collections. It also has works by Murillo, Ribera, Zurbarán, Fra Angelico, Rafael, Veronese, Tintoretto, Dürer, Patinir, Antonio Moro, Van Dyck and Poussin, among others. The great artistic wealth of the Prado is due to the great historical fondness of the royal family for painting. Together with the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, the Museo Nacional del Prado is part of the so-called Art Triangle. Visiting hoursMonday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25Reduced hours: January 6, December 24 and 31. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Puerta del Sol is an emblematic square located in the heart of Madrid. Here you can find the Km 0, the place where the Spanish arterial roads start; the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree and the Post Office house clock from where the New Year's Eve chimes have been broadcast since 1962. The famous luminous sign of Tío Pepe, an icon of the city can also be found here.

The neighborhood of the Letras of Madrid is located in the heart of the city. Its name is a tribute to the great writers who lived in the city during the Spanish Golden Age such as Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Quevedo. In the neighborhood of Las Letras are located historical monuments and places of interest such as the Casa Museo de Lope de Vega, the Ateneo de Madrid, the Callejón del Gato, the church of San Sebastián, the Plaza de Santa Ana, the printing press of Juan de la Cuesta. In addition, this lively street has a wide variety of restaurants and bars.

The Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, known as the Almudena Cathedral, is located on Bailén Street, in front of the Royal Palace, in the center of Madrid. The construction of this temple began on December 22, 1868, with the permission of the Archbishop of Toledo after the previous one had been destroyed in the revolution of the same year. The Congregation of Slaves of the Virgin of the Almudena were responsible for obtaining this permission since they presented themselves to the Royal House which decided to cede part of the land. When the queen died, King Alfonso XII hastened the construction as he wanted to bury his wife, Maria de las Mercedes, there. The architect in charge was Francisco de Cubas y Montes, who began the work in 1883, with Alfonso XII himself laying the first stone. The church became a cathedral in 1885, thus modifying the initial project. The design of the Almudena Cathedral is in the French neo-Gothic flowery style, with a Latin floor plan, three naves and side chapels. On the main altar is the figure of the Virgin of Almudena. The construction of the cathedral was slowed down due to the death of the architect and the handover to different architects such as Miguel Olabarría, Enrique Repullés y Vargas and Juan Moya. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, also caused a postponement of the construction of the temple until 1944 when the architects Fernando Chueca and Carlos Sidro de la Puerta were in charge of adapting and carrying on with the project. After several more setbacks, the cathedral was finally completed in 1993, 110 years after its inception.

The Royal Palace is located in the Plaza de Oriente, in Madrid. It ranks among the largest in Western Europe and the world. It covers 135,000 m² and has 3,418 rooms, almost twice as many as Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles. The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Head of State and one of the few that is opened to the public. In this palace, different spaces can be seen among which are the Throne Room, the Royal Armory, the Hall of Columns, the main staircase, the Hall of Gasparini, the Royal Kitchen, and the gala dining room, the Royal Chapel and the Hall of Albarderos. The Royal Palace was built by order of Philip V on the foundations of the old Royal Alcazar, which burned down in 1734. The works began in 1738 by the architect Filippo Juvara. When he died, he was replaced by Juan Bautista Sachetti. Other architects who were involved in the construction of the building were Ventura Rodriguez, in charge of the Royal Chapel, and Francesco Sabatini, who finished the palace and was in charge of the decoration. Monarchs of the calibre such as Carlos III, Alfonso XIII, Queen Maria Cristina and even Manuel Azaña, president of the Second Republic, have resided in this palace. Inside the building, you can find works of art of great value by artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez and Goya, among others.

The Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BC donated by the Egyptian government. Located in the Cuartel de la Montaña Park, near the Plaza de España, in Madrid. This temple was built at the command of King Meroe Adijalamani in honor of the gods Amun and Isis. Later, the kings who succeeded him added new rooms to the original one. After the annexation of Egypt to the Roman Empire, those who completed the temple were the emperors Augustus, Tiberius and probably Hadrian. In the 6th century, Nubia was converted to Christianity and the temple was abandoned. In the 20th century, the Egyptian government decided to donate it to the city of Madrid with the excuse of the construction of a dam that would demolish it and as thanks for its cooperation in the salvage of the temples of Nubia, among which is the Temple of Abu Simbel. The transfer work was meticulous since it was disassembled and reassembled piece by piece and opened to the public in 1972. Inside the Temple of Debod, you can find all the information and mythology surrounding this construction that has become a favorite place for the people of Madrid to watch the sunset.

The Plaza Mayor of Madrid is the historical center of the city as well as the nerve center. the construction of this arcaded square began on the site of the old Plaza del Arrabal at the end of the 15th century. The landmark buildings of this square are the Casa de la Panadería, from 1950, nowadays Madrid Tourism Center, and the Casa de la Carnicería, now converted into a four-star hotel. In the Plaza Mayor also stands the equestrian sculpture of Philip III, completed in 1616 and the famous Arco de Cuchilleros, where the workshops where butcher knives were made was located in the same square. In the Plaza Mayor of Madrid, there are numerous restaurants and bars as well as stores dedicated to collectables, coin and stamp collecting. In this square are also held many events are held here, fairs, festivals and markets, the market on Sunday morning is worth a visit