MADRID Part 1

Madrid, the capitol of Spain since 1561, is located on the Castille plateau, on the Manzanares river. Madrid is 646 meters above sea level. It's the ideal place for a weekend getaway. Here's a quick glance at the main attractions in this renowned, captivating and very cosmopolitan city.

With a population of more than three million people, the capitol has managed to remain a very people-oriented city. The people of Madrid walk their children in its many parks and gardens, and lovers cuddle in the grass. Retiro park with its lake, the Botanical Garden and la casa del Camp, off the right bank of the Manzanares, are all very pleasant spots where you can take a stroll and enjoy your time in Madrid.

Visiting Madrid also means going to see its many prestigious museums, like El Prado (18th Century) which has one of the largest collection of paintings in the world. The Thyssen Museum is yet another marvel in itself. The Queen Sofia Museum is home to the famous painting Guernica, by Picasso. But the lesser known museums also have a lot to offer. The Sorolla Museum is a must see for the vivid colors and light of its paintings.

To get the most out of your stay in Madrid, you absolutely must take a stroll through the streets of the business districts of Montera or Calla Mayor near the puerta del Sol. What an experience to steep in the warm ambiance of the Gran via, a noisy main street lined with its many grand 1930s style architecture buildings. Don't miss the old districts called Chuca and Lavapiès. Each Sunday the "rastro" takes place there; an almost surreal flea market offering a hodge podge of goods and a wonderfully joyous atmosphere among the thousands of merchant stalls.

For the people of Madrid, the streets are a place to meet other people, just plain live their lives, discuss the day's events and share their ideas. From the puerta del Sol to the plaza Mayor, passing through the plaza de Espana with its famous statue of Don Quixote, you'll see people chatting ("charlar"), often loudly, about the last football match, politics, everything in general, and nothing in particular... it's a real way of life. Don't forget to have a drink and some tapas in one of the local bars to steep in the local atmosphere.

And if you can keep it up until the wee hours of the morning, you will have gotten a taste of the real Madrid.

Coming Soon

Subway, buses, taxis, cable cars, etc.

Tapas, restaurants, hotels, information, good deals 
Parks and Gardens
The Lavapies and Gran via districts
La puerta del Sol
The Royal Palace, the Almuneda Cathedral
The plaza Mayor and environs
Monuments, Cibelles, Neptune, Don Quixote

CLIMATE

Be careful. July and August are very hot months...

winters can be rigorous with temperatures below zero beneath sunny skies.

>>> MADRID Part 2