Madrid Sightseeings

Madrid, capital of Spain, is a cosmopolitan city. Its position as a centre for economics, finance, administration and services combines the most modern infrastructure with an important cultural and artistic heritage, the legacy of centuries of fascinating history.

Madrid is strategically located at the geographical centre of the Iberian peninsular, 646 meters above sea level. Its old town is exemplary among major European cities, and blends harmoniously with the most modern and convenient of urban infrastructure.

The Madrid area has been settled since the Lower Paleolithic age, but it was not until 1561 that King Philip II made it the capital of his mighty empire. The historic old town, also known as "Madrid de las Austrias" (referring to the Hapsburg empire) is a living example of the city's 16th and 17th century heyday, as is its impressive Plaza Mayor (square), which was opened in 1620 and remains one of Spain's most popular and typical spots.

Art and culture are central to Madrid life. The city has 73 museums that cover all fields of human knowledge. Of these, the most important are the Prado Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries that go from the earliest Dutch masters to the most avantguard trends, and the Reina Sofia National Art Centre, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Joan Miry, Salvador Dali and Juan Gris among others.

Visitors and residents alike can enjoy the sun, go for walks, go rowing or feed the squirrels in Madrid's large, impeccable parks and gardens. The Retiro Park, once playground of Spanish Monarchs, the Casa de Campo and the Juan Carlos I Park among others make Madrid one of Europe's greenest capitals. Madrid is also one of Europe's most attractive business centers. Its international airport receives more than one thousand flights weekly from all over the world and it has two main conference centers, as well as the modern Campo de las Naciones exhibition centre and a capacity to hold more than 80,000 people in other varied conference and meeting facilities.

Madrid's happening nightlife is another major attraction. Its pubs, bars, discos and flamenco clubs have a tremendous atmosphere, while by day there are traditional verbenas (open-air dances), popular festivals or the San Isidro bullfighting festival - rated as the world's most important.

Prado Museum Located in an 18th building designed by Juan de Villanueva, the Prado is considered one of the most important art galleries in the world. It houses masterpieces by Goya, El Greco, Ribera, Ribalta, Titian, Raphael, Botticelli, Rubens, Bosch, Van der Weyden, Poussin, Lorrain, Watteau, Rembrandt, Durer and Mengs, among others.
Paseo del Prado It is one of the main boulevards in Madrid. This densely tree-lined, wide and centric avenue is a landmark for the city residents and the location of important cultural and tourist spots in the city. Metro: Banco de Espaca & Atocha. Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Reina Sofia Culture Center A cultural center containing a permanent collection of Spanish contemporary art and offering a wide variety of temporary exhibitions covering diverse modern artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture, video, photography, films, etc. Calle Santa Isabel, 52. Metro: Atocha. Open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Closed: Tuesday. http://www.museoreinasofia.es
Cerralbo Museum A private collection including archeological artifacts, porcelains, tapestries and paintings from different periods. Calle Ventura Rodriguez, 17. Metro: Plaza de Espaca & Ventura Rodriguez. Open: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Closed: Monday and holidays. http://museocerralbo.mcu.es
Sorolla Museum Former home and studio of the famous painter, this museum contains a good part of his work as well as paintings by his friends. Paseo General Martinez Campos, 37. Metro: Ruben Dario & Gregorio Maracyn. Open: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Closed: Monday. http://museosorolla.mcu.es
Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Museum Paintings from the 16th through 19th century Spanish School are exhibited. Flemish, German, French and Italian Schools are also represented. Displays of sculpture and porcelain. Calle Alcala, 13. Metro: Sol. Open: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Museum of the Americas This museum features American archeology and ethnology collections from prehistoric to modern times. Avenida Reyes Catolicos 6 Metro: Moncloa. Open: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday and holidays 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Closed: Monday.
Military Museum Over 27,000 artifacts including weapons, uniforms, documents, flags, painting and sculpture tracing the history of the Spanish military are on display. Calle Mendez Nunez, 1. Metro: Banco, Retiro Open: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Closed: Monday.
El Escorial It is located 45 km northwest of the Spanish capital Madrid. Felipe II ordered construction of these startling austere, grandiose, granite structures. The monastery, church and palace melt in a framework of courtyards, corridors and rooms forming a rectangular block crowned by four towers with pointed spires on each one of the corners, offsetting the horizontal lines. Also noteworthy is the basilica, topped by a 92 meter dome and paintings on the vaults by Lucas Jordan. Along the walls there are 43 altars with painted altarpieces and the main chapel of the nave concentrates the greatest decorative treasure of the church. The Patio de los Reyes, which precedes the basilica, is a solemn rectangular courtyard where the bareness of the walls contrasts with the truly royal grandeur of the front facade.
Palaces In those occupied by the Hapsburgs, the Sala de las Batallas decorated with frescoes is worthy of special mention. Outstanding among the palaces are the sumptuous rooms belonging to the Bourbons, decorated with luxurious tapestries and Pompeyan ceilings.
Chapterhouses Works by El Greco, Velazquez, Ribera, Titian and Bosch, along with paintings from the 16th century Venetian School, can be admired.