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 center of the capital but also the center 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 (Kilometer 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.
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 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 center 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 cafe and others rowing around the lake in rented boats.
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.
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.
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.
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 de AméricaThis 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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